This page provides links to legislation that directly protects tenants, abuse survivors, and the public from institutional failure or injustice. These are real laws you can invoke.
Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012
Created Police Scotland and established legal duties to act ethically, uphold human rights, and be accountable. See Section 32 for expected standards of conduct.
Human Rights Act 1998
Makes the European Convention on Human Rights enforceable in UK courts. Key protections include the right to life (Article 2) and respect for private and family life (Article 8).
Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006
Established the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), allowing public complaints about police conduct to be independently reviewed.
Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016
Clarifies police powers of arrest, detention and investigation. Defines what must happen when someone is taken into custody—including their rights.
Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Outlaws stalking, threats, and repeated harassment. Applies to abusive partners, landlords, and others. Can result in restraining orders and police action.
Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018
Makes psychological and emotional abuse a criminal offence in Scotland. Covers coercive control, intimidation, and isolation in domestic settings.
Domestic Abuse Act 2021
Defines domestic abuse in England & Wales, including emotional, economic, and psychological abuse. Grants protections including tenancy and housing rights.
Protection from Eviction Act 1977
It is a criminal offence for landlords to evict tenants without a court order. Covers harassment, threats, and interference with quiet enjoyment of your home.
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
Empowers authorities to act on serious nuisance or harassment. Civil injunctions and community protection notices can be used where police or landlords ignore public suffering.
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Allows access to documents and records held by Police Scotland and public bodies. Use it to demand records, complaint logs, or policies affecting your case.
Consumer & Economic Protections
The following UK laws protect the public from fraud, theft, rogue traders, online deception, and abusive credit practices.
Theft Act 1968
Defines offences like theft, burglary, robbery, and handling stolen goods. Protects people from direct property crime.
Fraud Act 2006
Criminalises fraud by false representation, failure to disclose information, and abuse of position. Used for scams, fake sales, or deceitful business conduct.
Serious Crime Act 2007
Enables data-matching across public bodies to detect benefit and tax fraud. Allows intervention against organised fraud networks.
Computer Misuse Act 1990
Makes hacking, ransomware, phishing, and online tampering criminal offences. Widely used in digital crime enforcement.
Consumer Rights Act 2015
Guarantees your right to refund, repair or replacement for faulty goods and services. Also protects you from unfair contract terms.
Misrepresentation Act 1967
Gives legal recourse when you've been misled into a contract — even if the deception wasn’t intentional.
Consumer Credit Act 2006
Regulates loans, credit cards, and debt collection. Offers rights to dispute unfair agreements and access redress through the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
Tackles fake online reviews, subscription traps, dark patterns, and price manipulation. Designed to clean up digital commerce.