Using a Solicitor to Sue the Police in the UK

Pannone has a team of specialist solicitors and legal advisers who deal with actions against the Police.

Our personal injury solicitors have experience in winning civil actions against the police for people who have been mistreated in some way by false imprisonment or assault by a police officer. You may be able to sue the police if any of the following apply:

• You have been assaulted by a police officer
• You were falsely imprisoned or held by the police longer than necessary or allowed by law
• The police took a malicious prosecution against you
• A police officer is guilty of misfeasance of public office, meaning he or she used their position as a police officer in an inappropriate way
• A police officer trespassed on your property
• A police officer committed trespass to goods and conversion, meaning he or she damaged your property or seized it and refused to return it
• The police were negligent against you and you have suffered loss as a result
• The police breached your Human Rights
• You were the victim of racial discrimination

Our solicitors also handle compensation claims against the police arising out of miscarriages of justice, for example, where there has been a wrongful conviction. We also represent those who have suffered loss when someone close to them has died whilst in custody and where the Coroner holds an Inquest.

We can also deal with complaints about the police. The police complaints system is now overseen by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Taking action against the police can be a very daunting prospect. We will advise you of your options and discuss with you the likely outcome of your police compensation claim. We will consider carefully with you how your case is best funded, whether through legal expense insurance which you may already have, through public funding (legal aid) or, in certain situations on a Conditional Fee Basis. We can also consider dealing with your case on a private client basis in appropriate cases. If a claim is successfully made to the Home Secretary for wrongful conviction (a miscarriage of justice case) then there is scope for payments to be made to solicitors for your legal costs.

The most likely outcome of any police claim, is an award of compensation. The police rarely issue apologies. When you sue the police, compensation falls into three categories:

• Basic Damages - an amount of money designed to compensate the Claimant
• Aggravated Damages - damages for injured feelings. If aggravated damages are awarded, they will not be less than £1,000
• Exemplary Damages - designed to punish the conduct of a Police Officer which is arbitrary, oppressive or unconstitutional. If exemplary damages are awarded, they will be not less than £5,500.00

It may also be possible to make a claim for compensation to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority where you have sustained injuries as a result of a crime of violence. The amount of compensation awarded by the Criminal Compensation Authority is determined according to a Tariff Scheme and is assessed according to the injuries sustained.

If you need to choose a solicitor to sue the police, in order to ensure that you get the best representation possible, use a solicitor who is a specialist in the area of police compensation claims. Pannone’s police actions solicitors will be able to advise you on how best to proceed with your case to ensure you get the highest level of compensation possible.

Call Freephone 0800 0384 384 or e-mail us now for a consultation with a Solicitor that specialises in claims against the Police.