Personal security and the 'right' to protection

Uri Yanay*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Welfare organizations and social services deal with issues of personal security. They are involved in risk assessment and in the protection of individuals and families. However, their mission in this domain is not defined, and its boundaries are not set. The article discusses the right to personal security. The duty of the state to guarantee this right is stated by international declarations and conventions that were ratified by the United Kingdom, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights that was adopted into domestic English law. In the application of the right to personal security, and the state's duty to secure this right, two independent processes are taking place. First, in the United Kingdom, the English courts are reluctant to recognize an affirmative right to personal security and to impose on state and public agencies a duty to secure this right. Second, as in many other service areas, this duty is rendered to the community. It is vital for the social services to discuss this duty, especially when they are called to vouch for the personal security of individuals and families in the community.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)509-525
Number of pages17
JournalSocial Policy and Administration
Volume40
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2006

Keywords

  • Crime victims
  • Duty of care
  • Human rights
  • Personal safety
  • Police
  • Security

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