Claims Against The Police
Occasionally the police get things wrong. They could subject someone to wrongful imprisonment or overstep what we see as reasonable force in restraining somebody. In most of our cases, we deal with claims for people who believe they have been falsely imprisoned or that they have been assaulted by a police officer. Occasionally our clients believe that a family member or loved one has died in police custody because of police misconduct.
Consult expert lawyers for your claim against the police
We have been successfully helping clients to claim against the police for years. Many of our cases have been high profile as we help clients to challenge the way they have been handled by police.
Our clients are often protestors who have been injured or imprisoned while staging a peaceful protest. While many of our clients report being injured by police, others claim they have been the subject of a wrongful arrest with little idea of what they are being charged with.
If you believe you have been injured as the result of a police assault, or believe you have been falsely imprisoned or subject to wrongful arrest, our experienced team of lawyers can provide you with expert advice and support.
Over the years we have developed an excellent reputation in handling claims for environmental and animal welfare campaigners.
Irwin Mitchell has been involved in a number of high profile cases against various UK police forces. Here are some of our notable cases:
Twyford Down litigation – This litigation was conducted against Hampshire Police following mass arrests of individuals during the construction of the Twyford Down pass and also during the Newbury by-pass construction in the mid-1990s.
We have also successfully represented hunt saboteurs and animal rights campaigners in group actions against various police forces. Many of these cases resulted in out of court settlements.
About making a claim against the Police
Many people believe that making a claim against the police will be difficult. Thankfully the law is very fair when it comes to matters of liberty and protection and we have successfully helped many clients to claim compensation.
You may be seeking an apology, looking to ensure that the police authority in question is accountable, or seeking compensation for any injuries that you have suffered as a result or mistreatment or assault.
Police misconduct and wrongful arrest
Most of our cases fall into one of more of the following categories. If you feel you have been mistreated by police, read on to find out more about common types of claim:
False imprisonment
If you have been arrested or detained, the police must justify why they are holding you. This applies to being held at a police station, but can also apply to imprisonment on the street, in your home or in a police car or van.
Assault and battery
The law allows police to use reasonable force when going about their duties. Of course the key word here is reasonable – if they use excessive force they may be liable to assault and battery. An assault can be classed as someone touching you without a lawful reason to do so.
Malicious prosecution
To make a claim for malicious prosecution we need to help you prove that in charging you with an offence the police acted maliciously and without reasonable and probable cause.
Wrongful arrest
Many people believe that the police have the right to detain someone “to help with their enquiries”. This is not the case – a person who has not been formally arrested can come and go as they please.
Death in custody
While this is rare, we have dealt with cases where individuals have died in police custody. This could be a result of self harm, due to illness or injury and actions by the police or others. When a person is in custody the police should make sure that they are safe. Illness or injury should be treated accordingly and immediately.
Talk to an expert about making a claim
Call us on 0870 024 0558 or fill in our claim form and we will get back to you.