header-logo header-logo

Privacy matters

26 July 2018 / Athelstane Aamodt
Issue: 7803 / Categories: Opinion , Freedom of Information
printer mail-detail
nlj_7803_aamodt

Sir Cliff’s victory will not end the tug of war between press freedom & the rights of individuals, says Athelstane Aamodt

The judgment of Mann J in the case of Sir Cliff Richard v The BBC & The Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police [2018] EWHC 1837 (Ch) was set to be a hugely pivotal decision in the continual tug-of-war between press freedom and the rights of individuals, and so it proved to be. The judge’s ruling, that the BBC’s coverage of the search of Sir Cliff’s property in Berkshire by South Yorkshire Police in 2014 infringed his right to privacy, and that he is entitled to £210,000 in general damages (the special damage will be assessed later) will have a marked influence on what the press can and cannot say about the investigation of a suspect before arrest. But what will be the extent of that effect? And does this case, as some sections of the press have alleged, really take us down a dark road of unscrutinised police investigations and secrecy?

  • The first thing
If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll