Who's breaching your human rights?

Summary

The Human Rights Act says a public authority is an organisation which provides public functions. Here are examples of public authorities: * police, prison and immigration officers * other organisations which have been set up by the law like the Information Commissioner’s Office and the General Medical Council. Private organisations or charities are also public authorities if they carry out public functions. They must respect your human rights when they carry out their public functions. * privatised utilities like water companies, British Gas and Network Rail * some companies who have been subcontracted to carry out a public function like a security company running a private prison * some housing associations when carrying out some of its functions as a social landlord * private care homes providing care on behalf of the local authority * private hospitals providing care on behalf of the NHS. It’s the courts who decide if something is a public function as there’s no definition in the Human Rights Act. Generally speaking a public function is something that's normally provided to the public by the state like education, prisons or health services. So if an organisation carries out one.

Key information

• police, prison and immigration officers
• other organisations which have been set up by the law like the Information Commissioner’s Office and the General Medical Council.
• privatised utilities like water companies, British Gas and Network Rail
• some companies who have been subcontracted to carry out a public function like a security company running a private prison
• some housing associations when carrying out some of its functions as a social landlord
• private care homes providing care on behalf of the local authority
• private hospitals providing care on behalf of the NHS.
• supervised by a state regulatory body
• exercising powers given to it by the law
• taking the place of central or local government
• providing a public service
• acting in the public interest

Practical guidance

• Source: Who's breaching your human rights?

Related topics

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