Human rights laws 'used too much'

Many people believe human rights laws in Britain have gone too far, according to a new survey. Three quarters of Britons feel the Human Rights Act is being used too widely, while 64% think human rights should not be protected for people who break the law.

Just over half of people questioned (51%) think the Human Rights Act is bad for British justice.

The study of over 2,000 people, commissioned for ITV1's Tonight programme, comes as an independent commission - set up by the Government to examine human rights legislation - begins work.

The programme will feature an interview with Paul Houston, whose daughter Amy died after she was left trapped under the wheels of a car driven by a failed asylum seeker.

The driver, Iraqi Aso Mohammed Ibrahim, had not previously been removed from the UK because of his human rights. The same reason was given for him not being sent home following his sentence because by then he had a British partner and two British children.

Mr Houston believes the Human Rights Act should be redrafted to balance people's rights with their responsibility to obey the law.

"Everybody has human rights, that's what they're saying. So what I am saying is with those rights comes responsibility. If you are irresponsible then you deserve to lose those rights," he said.

The programme will be screened at 7.30pm on ITV1.


(2011-5-12/BelfastTelegraph)