Actions against the Police and other Detaining Authorities

• Have the police breached your human rights?
• Have you been assaulted by a police officer or had excessive force used against you?
• Have you been falsely imprisoned or held by the police longer than necessary?
• Are you the victim of a malicious prosecution or police negligence?
• Has a police officer trespassed on or damaged your property or seized it and refused to return it?

We advise on civil actions against the police and other detaining authorities (such as the Ministry of Justice, the NHS Litigation Authority and companies such as Group 4) where there have been allegations of abuse of power or neglect of duty.

We deal with cases involving wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, negligence, assault, trespass, judicial review applications and claims under the Human Rights Act, particularly involving Article 2 (right to life), Article 3 (prohibition against torture or against inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment), Article 5 (right to liberty and security) and Article 8 (right to respect to private and family life).

We can advise on all aspects of police complaint matters and have experience of persuading the IPCC to reverse Investigating Officers’ decisions and to recommend disciplinary action including fines, superintendent warnings and apologies.

This service is based in the north east but there is some scope to take cases from elsewhere in England and Wales. We are willing to travel to see clients and can arrange home, hospital or prison appointments as necessary.

At the moment we are not able to offer legal aid but we can advise on private funding arrangements or conditional fee agreements, sometimes known as “no win, no fee” agreements. We offer free initial advice without obligation. We hope to be able to offer legal aid later in the year.

Unit members: Laura Janes , Terence Channer