Shannon W Unit 3: Citizenship, diversity and the public services P4,M2
Legal Rights- Legal rights can differ from country to country depending whether they go against
human rights or not. Legal rights refer to rights according to law.
Relevant immigration acts-
An example of an immigration act that is relevant to the public services is the ‘UK border act 2007.’
This act in particular provides immigration officers with several police like powers. These powers
consist of detention, search and seizure.
Another example of an immigration act that is relevant to the public services is the ‘Citizenship &
immigration act 2009.’ This act stated that residents who had spent five years living in the UK were
able to apply for indefinite leave to remain. In simple terms this act means that citizens who have
spent five years of residence in the UK can lead to a probationary citizenship, which can then lead to
a full citizenship after earning a certain number of points. These points can be gained by civic
activism such as volunteering.
The terrorism act of 2000 was created to make provision about terrorism. This act allows the police
to detain people who are arrested for terrorism offences for at least 7 days however, this was later
amended. It also grants the police the power to stop and search either a person or a vehicle without
suspicion if the police are operating in a designated area which is under special authorisation.
Police and criminal evidence act 1984 (PACE) was set out to strike the right balance between the
powers of the police and the rights and freedoms of the public. PACE has several codes of practice
that all police officers should consider and refer to when carrying out procedures associated with
their work. The codes of practice cover stop and search, arrest, detention, investigation,
identification and interviewing detainees.
Current UK and EU Equal Opportunities legislations-
In Britain, everyone should be entitled to have the same rights. However, there are some human
right laws which have been put in place to make sure certain groups such as; women, ethnic
minorities, the disabled and the elderly, and gay people, are not discriminated against.
The sex discrimination act of 1975 was an act created to protect both men and women from
discrimination on the grounds of sex or even marital status.
The equal pay act of 1970 was created to reduce the pay gap between men and women; before this
act was put in place, a man would earn more than women even if they were doing the same job. The
act states that both men and women must be paid the same for doing the same job as well as
getting equal working terms which as sick leave, holidays and bonus payments. In 2003, there was an
amendment to the equal pay act which added the extra offence of ‘concealment’. This basically
means that if an employer has lied about paying two different people (whether they are a man or
women, black or white the same.)
Legal Rights- Legal rights can differ from country to country depending whether they go against
human rights or not. Legal rights refer to rights according to law.
Relevant immigration acts-
An example of an immigration act that is relevant to the public services is the ‘UK border act 2007.’
This act in particular provides immigration officers with several police like powers. These powers
consist of detention, search and seizure.
Another example of an immigration act that is relevant to the public services is the ‘Citizenship &
immigration act 2009.’ This act stated that residents who had spent five years living in the UK were
able to apply for indefinite leave to remain. In simple terms this act means that citizens who have
spent five years of residence in the UK can lead to a probationary citizenship, which can then lead to
a full citizenship after earning a certain number of points. These points can be gained by civic
activism such as volunteering.
The terrorism act of 2000 was created to make provision about terrorism. This act allows the police
to detain people who are arrested for terrorism offences for at least 7 days however, this was later
amended. It also grants the police the power to stop and search either a person or a vehicle without
suspicion if the police are operating in a designated area which is under special authorisation.
Police and criminal evidence act 1984 (PACE) was set out to strike the right balance between the
powers of the police and the rights and freedoms of the public. PACE has several codes of practice
that all police officers should consider and refer to when carrying out procedures associated with
their work. The codes of practice cover stop and search, arrest, detention, investigation,
identification and interviewing detainees.
Current UK and EU Equal Opportunities legislations-
In Britain, everyone should be entitled to have the same rights. However, there are some human
right laws which have been put in place to make sure certain groups such as; women, ethnic
minorities, the disabled and the elderly, and gay people, are not discriminated against.
The sex discrimination act of 1975 was an act created to protect both men and women from
discrimination on the grounds of sex or even marital status.
The equal pay act of 1970 was created to reduce the pay gap between men and women; before this
act was put in place, a man would earn more than women even if they were doing the same job. The
act states that both men and women must be paid the same for doing the same job as well as
getting equal working terms which as sick leave, holidays and bonus payments. In 2003, there was an
amendment to the equal pay act which added the extra offence of ‘concealment’. This basically
means that if an employer has lied about paying two different people (whether they are a man or
women, black or white the same.)
