OCR A level law H418/03 the
nature of law and the Human
rights actual 2026 paper merged
with mark scheme
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
, 1
OCR A level law H418/03 the
nature of law and the Human
rights actual 2026 paper merged
with mark scheme
*1884693824*
INSTRUCTIONS Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question
numbers must be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer four questions in total:
• Answer one question in Section A.
• Choose one option in Section B. Answer the three questions in either Part
1 or Part 2 from the option you have chosen.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an
asterisk (*).
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
(PQ) 355289/2
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Section A
The nature of law
Answer one question using examples from your full course of study.
1* ‘The problem with defining justice is that very few people agree on what
justice actually means.’
Discuss how the legal system defines justice given this statement.
2* ‘The rule of law is a deceptive term because there is no single ‘rule’ to
follow. It is best understood as a collection of principles designed to
produce fair and just outcomes.’
Discuss this view of the rule of law.
© OCR 2026 H418/03 Jun26
, 2
Section B
Human rights law
Choose Part 1 or Part 2
Part 1
Answer the three questions.
The first two questions are about the scenarios. The scenarios are related.
Sam is a controversial journalist on a tour promoting his new book Citizens in
Action. He does not allow cameras into his venues. However, at his first venue
he is secretly filmed explaining that citizen action means taking ‘any direct
action necessary’ to pursue a goal, including criminal acts. He also says that
‘any lawyer acting for an asylum seeker should have his house burned down’.
The video clip is posted online and soon goes viral. As a result, the following
events happen:
• At his second venue the local council, having viewed the online clips from
the first show, withdraw the license. When he arrives, he finds the venue is
closed and his show has been cancelled.
• A government official acting for the Home Office applies for a banning
order to prevent Sam’s book being sold on the grounds that it is spreading
hate speech.
• Yana, a protestor, throws green paint over Sam and is arrested and
charged with battery.
While Yana is awaiting her trial, her boyfriend, Riley, starts harassing Sam and
his family. He spies on Sam’s home and family taking photographs which he
emails to Sam. Sam is very worried about his family’s safety. Sam’s wife,
Amaya, starts to receive anonymous phone calls accusing Sam of being violent
and of having abused his partners over many years. She also receives
messages appearing to be from Sam’s previous girlfriend. In fact, the calls and
messages are from Riley.
Amaya is also sent links to a pornographic website containing obscene video
material showing Sam participating in a variety of disturbing and illegal sexual
acts. In fact, all the images are fake and have been created by Riley using an
AI (artificial intelligence) video generating programme.
3 Advise Sam whether he will be able to rely on his Article 10 rights to
challenge the closure of the venue and the banning of the book and
advise Yana on whether she can rely on her Article 10 rights in relation to
the criminal charge for throwing the paint over Sam. Do not consider
Article 11.
4 Advise Sam and Amaya how the law on harassment would apply to Riley’s
emails, phone calls and messages and how the law on obscenity would
apply to Riley’s fake video material. [20]
© OCR 2026 H418/03 Jun26
, 3
Essay question on human rights law
5* ‘Despite its fundamental significance as a human right, the right to a fair
trial under the European
Convention on Human Rights has been far too frequently violated.’
Discuss whether the mechanisms to protect a fair criminal trial are effective
given this statement.
Turn over
Part 2
Answer the three questions.
The first two questions are about the scenarios. The scenarios are not related.
During an international flight to the UK, a flight attendant notices that two
passengers are showing symptoms of an unusual illness. The Ministry of Health
orders that the plane should be kept on the runway until all the passengers
have been medically checked. All the passengers are checked for symptoms
and, sixteen hours later, they are finally allowed to leave the plane.
The passengers are also told that they must self-isolate at home for fourteen
days as a precaution. The next day, one of the passengers, Jamal, goes out
shopping for food. He is spotted by police, arrested and taken to a secure
medical facility. He is kept there in strict isolation for two months.
On another international flight to the UK, one of the passengers, Umi, is fleeing
a warzone. They claim asylum and are taken to a secure detention centre.
Eight months later, Umi is still in the centre waiting for their claim to be
processed.
Felix is the new prison governor at Lawton Prison. He has introduced strict new
rules to combat a recent rise in violence, drug use and unrest in the prison.
Under the new rules the following events happen:
• Hugo is a prisoner serving a life sentence. His parole hearing is cancelled
and he is told it would be ‘a waste of time’. His request to consult a lawyer
is also refused.
• Felix implements a new rule to cut the pay of any prison officer on duty
whenever there is a disturbance. The rule is made without following the
usual requirement of consulting the prison officers’ union. Jack is the first
officer to have his pay cut.
• Leo is a suspected terrorist who is on remand. Felix orders that he is kept
in solitary confinement for long periods and not allowed to mix with the
ordinary prisoners.
Hugo, Jack and Leo seek a judicial review of the decisions made by Felix.
6 Advise all the passengers and Jamal on the first flight, and Umi on the
second flight, whether
any of them have had their right to liberty breached under Article 5.
© OCR 2026 H418/03 Jun26
nature of law and the Human
rights actual 2026 paper merged
with mark scheme
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
, 1
OCR A level law H418/03 the
nature of law and the Human
rights actual 2026 paper merged
with mark scheme
*1884693824*
INSTRUCTIONS Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question
numbers must be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer four questions in total:
• Answer one question in Section A.
• Choose one option in Section B. Answer the three questions in either Part
1 or Part 2 from the option you have chosen.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an
asterisk (*).
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
(PQ) 355289/2
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Section A
The nature of law
Answer one question using examples from your full course of study.
1* ‘The problem with defining justice is that very few people agree on what
justice actually means.’
Discuss how the legal system defines justice given this statement.
2* ‘The rule of law is a deceptive term because there is no single ‘rule’ to
follow. It is best understood as a collection of principles designed to
produce fair and just outcomes.’
Discuss this view of the rule of law.
© OCR 2026 H418/03 Jun26
, 2
Section B
Human rights law
Choose Part 1 or Part 2
Part 1
Answer the three questions.
The first two questions are about the scenarios. The scenarios are related.
Sam is a controversial journalist on a tour promoting his new book Citizens in
Action. He does not allow cameras into his venues. However, at his first venue
he is secretly filmed explaining that citizen action means taking ‘any direct
action necessary’ to pursue a goal, including criminal acts. He also says that
‘any lawyer acting for an asylum seeker should have his house burned down’.
The video clip is posted online and soon goes viral. As a result, the following
events happen:
• At his second venue the local council, having viewed the online clips from
the first show, withdraw the license. When he arrives, he finds the venue is
closed and his show has been cancelled.
• A government official acting for the Home Office applies for a banning
order to prevent Sam’s book being sold on the grounds that it is spreading
hate speech.
• Yana, a protestor, throws green paint over Sam and is arrested and
charged with battery.
While Yana is awaiting her trial, her boyfriend, Riley, starts harassing Sam and
his family. He spies on Sam’s home and family taking photographs which he
emails to Sam. Sam is very worried about his family’s safety. Sam’s wife,
Amaya, starts to receive anonymous phone calls accusing Sam of being violent
and of having abused his partners over many years. She also receives
messages appearing to be from Sam’s previous girlfriend. In fact, the calls and
messages are from Riley.
Amaya is also sent links to a pornographic website containing obscene video
material showing Sam participating in a variety of disturbing and illegal sexual
acts. In fact, all the images are fake and have been created by Riley using an
AI (artificial intelligence) video generating programme.
3 Advise Sam whether he will be able to rely on his Article 10 rights to
challenge the closure of the venue and the banning of the book and
advise Yana on whether she can rely on her Article 10 rights in relation to
the criminal charge for throwing the paint over Sam. Do not consider
Article 11.
4 Advise Sam and Amaya how the law on harassment would apply to Riley’s
emails, phone calls and messages and how the law on obscenity would
apply to Riley’s fake video material. [20]
© OCR 2026 H418/03 Jun26
, 3
Essay question on human rights law
5* ‘Despite its fundamental significance as a human right, the right to a fair
trial under the European
Convention on Human Rights has been far too frequently violated.’
Discuss whether the mechanisms to protect a fair criminal trial are effective
given this statement.
Turn over
Part 2
Answer the three questions.
The first two questions are about the scenarios. The scenarios are not related.
During an international flight to the UK, a flight attendant notices that two
passengers are showing symptoms of an unusual illness. The Ministry of Health
orders that the plane should be kept on the runway until all the passengers
have been medically checked. All the passengers are checked for symptoms
and, sixteen hours later, they are finally allowed to leave the plane.
The passengers are also told that they must self-isolate at home for fourteen
days as a precaution. The next day, one of the passengers, Jamal, goes out
shopping for food. He is spotted by police, arrested and taken to a secure
medical facility. He is kept there in strict isolation for two months.
On another international flight to the UK, one of the passengers, Umi, is fleeing
a warzone. They claim asylum and are taken to a secure detention centre.
Eight months later, Umi is still in the centre waiting for their claim to be
processed.
Felix is the new prison governor at Lawton Prison. He has introduced strict new
rules to combat a recent rise in violence, drug use and unrest in the prison.
Under the new rules the following events happen:
• Hugo is a prisoner serving a life sentence. His parole hearing is cancelled
and he is told it would be ‘a waste of time’. His request to consult a lawyer
is also refused.
• Felix implements a new rule to cut the pay of any prison officer on duty
whenever there is a disturbance. The rule is made without following the
usual requirement of consulting the prison officers’ union. Jack is the first
officer to have his pay cut.
• Leo is a suspected terrorist who is on remand. Felix orders that he is kept
in solitary confinement for long periods and not allowed to mix with the
ordinary prisoners.
Hugo, Jack and Leo seek a judicial review of the decisions made by Felix.
6 Advise all the passengers and Jamal on the first flight, and Umi on the
second flight, whether
any of them have had their right to liberty breached under Article 5.
© OCR 2026 H418/03 Jun26
