Equality of Arms

Equality of arms in Law Enforcement

Main Entry: Law Enforcement in the Legal Dictionary. This section provides, in the context of Law Enforcement, a partial definition of equality of arms.

Resources

See Also

• Law Enforcement Officer
• Policeman
• Law Enforcement Agency

Further Reading

• equality of arms in A Dictionary of Law Enforcement (Oxford University Press)
• equality of arms in the Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement
• A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis

English Legal System: Equality of Arms

In the context of the English law, A Dictionary of Law provides the following legal concept of Equality of Arms : A concept that has been created by the European Court of Human Rights in the context of the right to a *fair trial (Article 6). Equality of arms requires that there be a fair balance between the opportunities afforded the parties involved in litigation (for example, each party should be able to call witnesses and cross-examine the witnesses called by the other party). In some circumstances this may require the provision of financial support to allow a person of limited means to pay for legal representation.