5.5.1 The law in the UK

Every person in the UK receives equal treatment under the law. This means that the law applies in the same way to everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from.

Laws can be divided into criminal law and civil law:

Criminal law relates to crimes, which are usually investigated by the police or another authority such as a council, and which are punished by the courts. Civil law is used to settle disputes between individuals or groups.

Examples of criminal laws are:

Carrying a weapon: it is a criminal offence to carry a weapon of any kind, even if it is for self-defence. This includes a gun, a knife or anything that is made or adapted to cause injury. Drugs: selling or buying drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis is illegal in the UK. Racial crime: it is a criminal offence to cause harassment, alarm or distress to someone because of their religion or ethnic origin. Selling tobacco: it is illegal to sell tobacco products (for example, cigarettes, cigars, roll-up tobacco) to anyone under the age of 18. Smoking in public places: it is against the law to smoke tobacco products in nearly every enclosed public place in the UK. There are signs displayed to tell you where you cannot smoke. Buying alcohol: it is a criminal offence to sell alcohol to anyone who is under 18 or to buy alcohol for people who are under the age of 18. (There is one exception: people aged 16 or over can drink alcohol with a meal in a hotel or restaurant. Drinking in public: some places have alcohol-free zones where you cannot drink in public. The police can also confiscate alcohol or move young people on from public places. You can be fined or arrested.

This list does not include all crimes. There are many that apply in most countries, such as murder, theft and assault. You can find out more about types of crime in the UK at www.gov.uk .

Examples of civil laws are:

Housing law: this includes disputes between landlords and tenants over issues such as repairs and eviction. Consumer rights: an example of this is a dispute about faulty goods or services. Employment law: these cases include disputes over wages and cases of unfair dismissal or discrimination in the workplace. Debt: people might be taken to court if they owe money to someone.