The number of breach of privacy cases at the High Court is in steep decline – confounding critics of the Human Rights Act (HRA).
A mere 29 reported cases were heard by the High Court last year, down from 46 the previous year and from 58 in 2014/15.
Most claims were brought against the media, such as Sir Cliff Richard’s high-profile claim against the BBC. Public bodies, including local authorities and government departments as well as prisons, were the next most common defendants (in 28% of cases).
Jonathan Cooper, of Doughty Street Chambers, said: ‘The drop in High Court privacy cases suggests that, nearly 20 years on from its introduction, the HRA is now working effectively to ensure that individuals’ privacy is being respected.
‘Despite much criticism of the HRA, the figures suggest that the Act has created a culture where fewer privacy breaches occur in the first place. The fall in case numbers may also be an indicator that where violations are alleged, alternative dispute resolution procedures are being used.’
