UK
Do you have information on my rights in Canada, UK, and beyond the US?
Submitted by Steve Silverman on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 16:27Because U.S. law is derived from British common law, Canadian and U.K. criminal procedural laws are strikingly similar to the U.S. As such, the general suggestions for dealing with law enforcement that we describe on this site (and in our educational DVDs) should be useful to you.
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association produces "The Arrest Handbook: A Guide to Your Rights" by David Eby. This handy guide uses straight-forward language to describe your rights in Canada in various common legal situations.
UK civil liberties group, Liberty, provides a comprehensive guide to your rights aptly titled, "Your Rights," and this article from The Guardian includes a helpful breakdown of your rights when approached by police in the UK.
It's worth noting that our informational strategies are premised on principles of non-violent non-cooperation. When dealing with law enforcement agents, the usefulness of these strategies are universal. In other words, when dealing with police in any country it's generally a good idea to a) refuse to consent to any searches if asked to do so, (2) determine if you're free to go, and (3) if placed under arrest, refuse to answer any questions until you speak with a trusted legal advocate.
