United Kingdom freedom of expressionarticle 5breach of the peace

Steel v United Kingdom

(1999) 28 EHRR 603

JurisdictionUnited Kingdom

CourtEuropean Court of Human Rights

Year1999

StatusPersuasive authority

Key Principle

Arrest and detention for breach of the peace can satisfy the 'lawful'/'prescribed by law' requirements of Articles 5 and 10 ECHR because the English-law concept is formulated with sufficient precision, but such measures must be a proportionate response to the risk posed; detaining peaceful protesters whose conduct created no real risk of a breach of the peace was disproportionate and violated Articles 5 and 10.

Area of Law

General

Related Cases

TNLC & Anor v Gambling Commission & Ors [2026] EWHC 891 (TCC)

Aabar Holdings S.A.R.L. and others v Glencore Plc and others [2026] EWHC 877 (Comm)

Waterside Class Limited v Mowi ASA & Ors [2026] CAT 32

Ask CommonBench about this case

Get a detailed analysis of Steel v United Kingdom and how it applies to your situation.

Explain Steel v United Kingdom