Nasir Hafezi is a legal trainer, ethics consultant and solicitor.

Here Nasir Hafezi shares another important critical presentation, this time reflecting on the legal frameworks used during the COVID19 pandemic. He considers what lessons can be learned in order to respond to future crises in the future. He highlights the human rights implications of the decisions and legal frameworks made by the UK government, as well as the ambiguities and harms that arose as a result of such frameworks.

Key words/ topics:

COVID19 Pandemic

Human Rights Act 1998

Protests

Social distancing

Announcing public health messages

Delayed decision making

Controversial powers

The power to detain potentially infectious persons

The power to force cremations contrary to the deceased wishes

Common law principle of legality