Thread by @GeorgePeretzQC

A quick thread about the legal issues surrounding the imposition of a “quarantine at a hotel” requirement for international travellers. These are initial thoughts: would welcome thoughts and contributions! NB I’m thinking about 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 only but this probably applies equally to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

The basic power is in section 45B of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.

Subsection (2)(b) refers to the “detention, isolation, or quarantine of persons”.

So the legal basis looks clear. But regulations will also have to meet requirements of rationality. And since detaining people in a hotel room engages fundamental human rights (Article 5 of the ECHR), HRA tests of proportionality are in play too.

Though NB that Art 5(3)(e) ECHR expressly contemplates lawful detention for the prevention of the spreading of infectious disease.

A couple of issues strike me.

First, the government will need a robust case to explain why isolation at home (eg using apps, geolocation, or even tracking bracelets) is not an acceptable alternative.

There has been some suggestion that the legal powers don’t exist to permit that: but I have to say that I don’t immediately see why it doesn’t fit under (2)(b) - at least as a set of conditions compliance with which are an exception from the requirement to quarantine at a hotel.

(Eg, quarantine in a hotel unless you download the app/keep your phone on and with you at all times/wear a tag).

Another set of issues surrounds this point, from ft.com/content/13c7cc…

As I understand it, the requirement won’t be imposed on eg road hauliers (because our supply chain would collapse if it did). And what about ministers and foreign dignitaries (the G7 is in the UK in June)? But then the logic of the Whitehall official kicks in.

To adopt a metaphor, a requirement to make people stick their fingers in a hole in the dyke and stand there for 2 weeks looks questionable if water is flowing unchecked through another hole in the dyke.

There may be answers to that but they need to be articulated and thought through.

Another issue: Ireland. See earlier short thread.

https://twitter.com/georgeperetzqc/status/1352947919947706370?s=21

https://twitter.com/georgeperetzqc/status/1352947919947706370

If NI is not being treated as “abroad” for quarantine purposes, what is being done to coordinate quarantine rules with the Irish Government?

Written before I saw this thread: but note the overlap here between the legal issues and the practical issues.

https://twitter.com/sebastianepayne/status/1353657496716660737

To put the point shortly: if a : detention in hotel policy is backed by reasoning to show why nothing less intrusive will work, and if it is more than a “something must be done” gesture made pointless because of exceptions, it will probably be legally secure. But those are “ifs”.

Some further thoughts here.

https://twitter.com/georgeperetzqc/status/1353768586247081986