R (C) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Subject Matter

HUMAN RIGHTS — Respect for private life — Interference with — Department for Work and Pensions client computer database — Transgender claimant’s computer records containing gender history information — Claimant suffering distress dealing face to face with officials having access to gender history information — Department’s policies on retention of such information having legitimate objectives of fraud reduction and pension calculation — Whether interference with claimant’s right to private life proportionate — Whether policies indirectly discriminating unlawfully against transgender persons — Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), s 6, Sch 1, Pt I, art 8 — Equality Act 2010 (c 15), s 19

[2016] EWCA Civ 47; [2016] PTSR 1344; [2016] WLR (D) 68, CA

HUMAN RIGHTS — Respect for private life — Interference with — Department for Work and Pensions client computer database — Transgender claimant’s computer record containing gender history information — Claimant suffering distress dealing face to face with officials having access to gender history information — Department’s policies on retention of such information having legitimate objectives of fraud reduction and pension calculation — Whether policies giving proper effect to statutory requirement that “person’s gender becomes for all purposes the acquired gender” — Whether interference with claimant’s Convention right to private life proportionate — Whether policies directly or indirectly discriminatory of transgender persons — Whether policies creating harassing environment — Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), Sch 1, Pt I, arts 8, 14 — Gender Recognition Act 2004 (c 7), ss 9, 22 — Equality Act 2010 (c 15), ss 13, 19, 26

[2017] UKSC 72; [2017] 1 WLR 4127; [2017] PTSR 1476; [2018] 2 All ER 391; [2017] WLR (D) 730; Case details, SC(E)

Appellate History

Legislation Considered

Statutes

Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), s 6, Sch 1, Pt I, art 8, 14

Equality Act 2010 (c 15), s2 13, 19, 26

Cases Considered

Cases considered in: R (C) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2016] EWCA Civ 47; [2016] PTSR 1344; [2016] WLR (D) 68, CA

Cases Cited

Cases cited in: R (C) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2014] EWHC 2403 (Admin), QBD

Baker v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2008] EWCA Civ 141; [2009] PTSR 809; [2009] LGR 239, CA

Bellinger v Bellinger [2003] UKHL 21; [2003] 2 AC 467; [2003] 2 WLR 1174; [2003] 2 All ER 593; [2003] 1 FLR 1043, HL(E)

Campbell v MGN Ltd [2004] UKHL 22; [2004] 2 AC 457; [2004] 2 WLR 1232; [2004] 2 All ER 995, HL(E)

Goodwin v United Kingdom (Appn no 28957/95); [2002] 2 FLR 487; (2002) 35 EHRR 18; (2002) 35 EHRR 447, ECtHR (GC)

J v C [2006] EWCA Civ 551; [2007] Fam 1; [2006] 3 WLR 876; [2006] 2 FLR 1098, CA

R (AB) v Secretary of State for Justice [2009] EWHC 2220 (Admin); [2010] 2 All ER 151; 11 BMLR 70; [2009] HRLR 35, QBD

R (Bailey) v Brent London Borough Council [2011] EWCA Civ 1586; [2012] LGR 530, CA

R (Brown) v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2008] EWHC (Admin) CA Civ 3158

R (Catt) v Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2013] EWCA Civ 192; [2013] 1 WLR 3305; [2013] 3 All ER 583; [2013] HRLR 20; [2013] WLR (D) 108, CA

R (GC) v Comr of the Police of the Metropolis [2011] UKSC 21; [2011] 1 WLR 1230; [2011] 3 All ER 859; [2011] 2 Cr App R 206; [2011] WLR (D) 162; Case details, SC(E)

R (Gillan) v Comr of Police of the Metropolis [2006] UKHL 12; [2006] 2 AC 307; [2006] 2 WLR 537; [2006] 4 All ER 1041; [2006] 2 Cr App R 525, HL(E)

R (Wood) v Comr of Police of the Metropolis [2009] EWCA Civ 414; [2010] 1 WLR 123; [2009] 4 All ER 951, CA

Timbrell v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2010] EWCA Civ 701; [2010] ICR 1369; [2011] 1 FLR 332; [2010] WLR (D) 155, CA

Cases cited in: R (C) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2016] EWCA Civ 47; [2016] PTSR 1344; [2016] WLR (D) 68, CA

Bank Mellat v HM Treasury (No 2) [2013] UKSC 38; [2013] UKSC 39; [2014] AC 700; [2013] 3 WLR 179; [2013] 4 All ER 495; [2013] 4 All ER 533; [2013] Lloyd's Rep FC 580; [2013] HRLR 30; [2013] WLR (D) 244, SC(E)

Belfast City Council v Miss Behavin’ Ltd [2007] UKHL 19; [2007] 1 WLR 1420; [2007] 3 All ER 1007; [2008] LGR 127, HL(NI)

Burnip v Birmingham City Council [2012] EWCA Civ 629; [2013] PTSR 117; [2012] LGR 954; [2012] WLR (D) 150, CA

Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police v Homer [2012] UKSC 15; [2012] ICR 704; [2012] 3 All ER 1287; [2012] WLR (D) 122; Case details, SC(E)

In re B (A Child) (Care Proceedings: Threshold Criteria) [2013] UKSC 33; [2013] 1 WLR 1911; [2013] 3 All ER 929; [2013] 2 FLR 1075; [2013] WLR (D) 226; Case details, SC(E)

J v C [2006] EWCA Civ 551; [2007] Fam 1; [2006] 3 WLR 876; [2006] 2 FLR 1098, CA

MB v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2014] EWCA Civ 1112; [2014] ICR 1129; [2015] 1 All ER 920; [2014] WLR (D) 355, CA

MM v United Kingdom (Application No 24029/07) given 13 November 2012; The Times, 16 January 2013, ECtHR

R (Aguilar Quila) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (AIRE Centre intervening) [2011] UKSC 45; [2012] 1 AC 621; [2011] 3 WLR 836; [2012] 1 All ER 1011; [2012] 1 FLR 788; [2011] WLR (D) 291; Case details, SC(E)

R (Catt) v Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2015] UKSC 9; [2015] AC 1065; [2015] 2 WLR 664; [2015] 2 All ER 727; 41 BHRC 108; [2015] HRLR 4; [2015] WLR (D) 110; Case details, SC(E)

R (Elias) v Secretary of State for Defence [2006] EWCA Civ 1293; [2006] 1 WLR 3213; [2006] IRLR 934, CA

R (JK) v Registrar General for England and Wales [2015] EWHC 990 (Admin); [2016] 1 All ER 354; [2015] 2 FCR 131; [2015] HRLR 10; [2015] CN 680, QBD

R (McDonald) v Kensington and Chelsea Royal London Borough Council [2011] UKSC 33; [2011] PTSR 1266; [2011] 4 All ER 881; [2012] LGR 107; [2011] WLR (D) 218; Case details, SC(E)

R (Munjaz) v Mersey Care NHS Trust [2005] UKHL 58; [2006] 2 AC 148; [2005] 3 WLR 793; [2006] 4 All ER 736, HL(E)

R (T) v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (Liberty intervening) [2014] UKSC 35; [2015] AC 49; [2014] 3 WLR 96; [2014] 4 All ER 159; [2014] 2 Cr App R 359; [2014] WLR (D) 271; Case details, SC(E)

R (Wood) v Comr of Police of the Metropolis [2009] EWCA Civ 414; [2010] 1 WLR 123; [2009] 4 All ER 951, CA

S v United Kingdom (Appn nos 30562/04 and 30566/04); (2008) 48 EHRR 50; 25 BHRC 557; [2009] Crim LR 355; (2008) 158 NLJ 1755; The Times, 8 December 2008, ECtHR (GC)

Sunday Times v United Kingdom (Appn no 6538/74); (1979) 2 EHRR 245; [1979] ECHR 1, ECtHR (GC)

Thlimmenos v Greece (Appn no 34369/97); (2000) 31 EHRR 411; (2000) 31 EHRR 12; (2000) 31 EHRR 15, ECtHR (GC)

Cases cited in: R (C) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2017] UKSC 72; [2017] 1 WLR 4127; [2017] PTSR 1476; [2018] 2 All ER 391; [2017] WLR (D) 730; Case details, SC(E)

Bellinger v Bellinger [2003] UKHL 21; [2003] 2 AC 467; [2003] 2 WLR 1174; [2003] 2 All ER 593; [2003] 1 FLR 1043, HL(E)

Goodwin v United Kingdom (Appn no 28957/95); [2002] 2 FLR 487; (2002) 35 EHRR 18; (2002) 35 EHRR 447, ECtHR (GC)

Hämäläinen v Finland CE:ECHR:2014:0716JUD003735909; 37 BHRC 55

I v United Kingdom CE:ECHR:2002:0711JUD002568094; 36 EHRR 53, GC

Identoba v Georgia CE:ECHR:2015:0512JUD007323512; 39 BHRC 510

J v C [2006] EWCA Civ 551; [2007] Fam 1; [2006] 3 WLR 876; [2006] 2 FLR 1098, CA

R (JK) v Registrar General for England and Wales [2015] EWHC 990 (Admin); [2016] 1 All ER 354; [2015] 2 FCR 131; [2015] HRLR 10; [2015] CN 680, QBD

Thlimmenos v Greece CE:ECHR:2000:0406JUD003436997; 31 EHRR 411, GC

Van Kück v Germany CE:ECHR:2003:0612JUD003596897; (Appn no 35968/97); (2003) 37 EHRR 51, ECtHR

Cases citing

Cases citing: R (C) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2014] EWHC 2403 (Admin), QBD

R (C) v Northumberland County Council [2015] EWHC 2134 (Admin); [2016] PTSR 874; [2016] 2 FLR 582; [2016] WLR (D) 189; [2015] EWHC (Admin) 2134, QBD

Cases citing: R (C) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2016] EWCA Civ 47; [2016] PTSR 1344; [2016] WLR (D) 68, CA

Dalston Projects Ltd v Secretary of State for Transport [2024] EWCA Civ 172; [2024] 1 WLR 3327; [2024] WLR(D) 113, CA

Executor of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, decd v Attorney General [2022] EWCA Civ 1081; [2023] 1 WLR 1193; [2023] 2 All ER 551; [2022] WLR(D) 342, CA

In re Al M [2020] EWCA Civ 283; [2020] 2 FLR 493, CA

In re Sprintroom Ltd [2019] EWCA Civ 932; [2019] 2 BCLC 617, CA

Lenord v First Manchester Ltd [2020] EWHC 982 (QB), QBD

Cases citing: R (C) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2017] UKSC 72; [2017] 1 WLR 4127; [2017] PTSR 1476; [2018] 2 All ER 391; [2017] WLR (D) 730; Case details, SC(E)

Forstater v CGD Europe UKEAT/105/20; [2022] ICR 1, EAT

Jay v Secretary of State for Justice [2018] EWHC 2620 (Fam); [2019] Fam 87; [2019] 2 WLR 37; [2019] 1 FLR 811; [2018] WLR (D) 627, Fam D

R (Bell) v Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWCA Civ 1363; [2022] PTSR 544; [2022] 1 All ER 416; [2022] 1 FLR 69; [2021] WLR(D) 490, CA

R (Buxton) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2018] EWHC 2196 (Admin); [2019] PTSR 502; [2018] WLR(D) 547, QBD

R (Elan-Cane) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2018] EWHC 1530 (Admin); [2018] 1 WLR 5119; [2018] 4 All ER 519; [2018] WLR (D) 397, QBD

R (Elan-Cane) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] EWCA Civ 363; [2020] QB 929; [2020] 3 WLR 386; [2021] 1 All ER 25; [2021] 1 FLR 302; [2020] WLR (D) 157; The Times, 27 May 2020, CA

R (TT) v Registrar General for England and Wales (AIRE Centre intervening) [2019] EWHC 2384 (Fam); [2020] Fam 45; [2019] 3 WLR 1195; [2020] 2 All ER 813; [2020] 1 FLR 676; [2020] 1 FCR 114; [2019] HRLR 17; [2019] WLR (D) 526, Fam D

R (TT) v Registrar General for England and Wales (AIRE Centre intervening) [2020] EWCA Civ 559; [2021] Fam 77; [2020] 3 WLR 683; [2020] 2 All ER 813; [2020] 2 FLR 366; [2020] WLR (D) 254, CA