The Human Rights Act 1998 imposes radical changes on UK law and practice: all statutes have to be reinterpreted to "read in" human rights, all public authorities (including the courts) have to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights - there is a new right of action against those who fail to do so - and breach of a Convention right is a defence in criminal and civil proceedings. The Act incorporates into UK law not only the Convention itself, but also the extensive case-law of the European Court and Commission of Human Rights. Presenting a detailed analysis of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the case law of the European Court and Commission of Human Rights, this book draws on all 1500 cases (reported and unreported) from Strasbourg which affect UK civil and criminal law. They are set out in a way designed to enable practitioners and advisers to concentrate on those cases most relevant to their area of practice.