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Human Rights: Restrictions on Convention Rights

Defamation, trespass and harassment

  • 3 things to know
  • Components 2 and 3

Overview

Serious harm requirement, defence of truth and defence of honest opinion.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is the defence of honest opinion?

Key term

How does trespass relate to protest?

Key term

What does the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 prohibit?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is defamation?

    Model answer

    Defamation is the publication of a statement that harms the reputation of an identifiable person. Libel is defamation in permanent form and slander is defamation in transient form.

  2. 2

    What must a claimant establish in a defamation claim?

    Model answer

    The statement must be defamatory, must identify the claimant and must have been published to a third party. The claimant must also show that the statement has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to reputation.

  3. 3

    What is the serious harm requirement, and why was it introduced?

    Model answer

    The serious harm requirement obliges a claimant to show the statement has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to reputation. The threshold was introduced to prevent trivial claims being used to suppress legitimate criticism.

  4. 4

    What is the defence of truth?

    Model answer

    Truth is a complete defence where the defendant shows the imputation conveyed is substantially true. The burden lies on the defendant rather than on the claimant to disprove.

  5. 5

    What is the defence of honest opinion?

    Model answer

    Honest opinion protects a statement of opinion whose basis is indicated. An honest person must have been able to hold that opinion on the facts available. The defence fails where the defendant did not actually hold it.

  6. 6

    What is the public interest defence in defamation?

    Model answer

    A statement on a matter of public interest is protected where the defendant reasonably believed publishing it was in the public interest. The court has regard to all the circumstances, including the steps taken to verify.

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BPublication cannot be undone.
CAn injunction may be the only effective remedy.

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