The individual was wrongly suspected of sexual exploitation and trafficking after he was seen speaking to a “young looking female” in a hotel foyer. It was later established that the female was an adult and significantly older than first thought.
Our client was arrested for controlling/ inciting prostitution under Section 52/53 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 following additional accusations supposedly linking him to a sex trafficking scheme.
During a search of his hotel room, the police confiscated personal possessions such as electronic devices and money. Following a 19-hour detention and a no comment interview, our client was released under investigation. He was eventually notified that no further police action would be taken.
The client sought legal advice from our expert Civil Litigation team and subsequently bought a claim under the Human Rights Act for breaches of his rights in addition to wrongful arrest, and false imprisonment. As judgment was given in favour of our client, the Court’s did not believe it was necessary to make a declaration on the Human Rights issues that were raised.This was a split trial, heard in the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court. A further hearing to determine quantum will follow.
The idea of pursuing litigation against the police concerned our client due to the prospect of securing a verdict against them. He is an EU Citizen and felt pursuing a claim would be very difficult. He appreciated our approach to his claim, reducing the matter to the crucial facts to give him the best possible chances of obtaining a positive outcome. His view was that we did an “outstanding job”, helped him understand and navigate the UK Legal System, and we look forward to assisting him with the upcoming issue of quantum.
Can I make a claim against the police?
The process for pursuing a claim for compensation of damages against the police can be extremely long, confusing, and stressful for the victim. We are here to help, to simplify the process, and to secure the right level of compensation for you.
Compensation claims and complaints against the police & include:
- False imprisonment/ wrongful arrest claims
- Malicious prosecution
- Discrimination claims
- Police trespass claims
- Police assault & battery claims
- Human rights law
- Breach of data protection – compensation claims
- Negligence
Although cases such as the above are rare, Police officers, as with every citizen, should be held to account for their actions, especially when their actions result in a foreseeable risk to the public and conflict with the general moral standing of our emergency services.
Here for you
Are you looking for legal support in Essex? Our Civil Litigation team are here to help you when you need it most.
Jefferies Solicitors have offices in Southend and Chelmsford, helping clients in Essex and surrounding areas with matters from Family Law to Property Law and many more.
If you need any advice or assistance on matters such as the above, please call 01702 332 311 or contact us here and our team of specialists will be happy to help.
The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. The law may have changed since this article was published. Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.