united-kingdom law-in-fiction
What kind of legal action could be brought against Hogwarts staff?
<p>Our stepson, Harry Potter, only received love and respect from both my family and myself during his time at home. Nevertheless, we felt it was prudent to sent him to the best boarding school in the country to further his talents. He spent a total of six years at Hogwarts. Unbeknownst to us, the educational staff at said facility neglected their duty to protect their pupils from physical and emotional harm at several occasions. As a result he was forced to abort his education during his senior year. He required half a year of rehabilitation camping with two other students of his year.</p>
<p>As such we want to make sure that no other child has to suffer the same way. Would you mind listing legal actions the staff or affiliates of said school have to fear? Jurisdiction is either England or Scotland, I can't seem to find the castle on a map. It goes without saying that muggle law supersedes any of the &quot;weird people&quot; law.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>It goes without saying that muggle law supersedes any of the &quot;weird
people&quot; law.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In Harry Potter's world, the Queen and the Prime Minister of the U.K. have  expressly and knowingly delegated legislative authority over the Wizarding world in secret legislation to self-governance by its own authorities, and also maintain a mandatory rule of silence about that world's existence. So, there would be no remedy in the ordinary courts of the U.K. Any remedy would have to come from Wizarding world authorities.</p>

<p>Leaving aside Vernon Dursley's gloss on his role, the opening chapters of The Philosopher's Stone describe harassment by Dumbledore followed by a number of crimes by Hagrid:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Breaking and entering the hut on the island.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Assault on Dudley, arguably using a deadly weapon (a wand). The pig tail might even be Grievous Bodily Harm given that it required hospital treatment to remove.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Child abduction: the Dursleys were Harry's legal guardians and did not want him taken by Hagrid. The fact that Harry went willingly is not relevant.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>So there are a nice selection of criminal charges in the opening chapters.</p>
