Information Note on the Court’s case-law 85

April 2006

Dickson v. the United Kingdom - 44362/04

Judgment 18.4.2006 [Section IV]

Article 8

Article 8-1

Respect for family life

Respect for private life

Husband in prison refused permission for artificial insemination: no violation

Article 12

Found a family

Husband in prison refused permission for artificial insemination: no violation

[This case was referred to the Grand Chamber on 13 September 2006]

Facts: In 1994 the first applicant, Mr Dickson, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a tariff (the minimum period to be served) of 15 years. He has no children. In 1999 he met a woman who was likewise imprisoned and in 2001 they were married. Mrs Dickson already had three children from other relationships. After Mrs Dickson had been released the couple requested artificial insemination facilities to enable them to have a child together, arguing that it would not otherwise be possible, given Mr Dickson’s earliest release date and Mrs Dickson’s age. The Secretary of State refused their application. They a