News

Plans to close the loophole that allows parents to remain silent in court on questions relating to the death of their children could infringe human rights, according to a parliamentary report.

The measure is one of several in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill that the Joint Committee on Human Rights has called into question.

If the bill is passed, juries will be allowed to make "inferences" about a person's guilt from their refusal to answer a question. But the committee fears that the measure could be incompatible with the right to a fair hearing under the European Convention on Human Rights.

- Report from www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt/jtrights.htm