On the morning of the 30 October 2009, my client Eddie Blakeway attended at Halesowen Police Station, Birmingham, in order to provide documentation in respect of his son, who had been involved in a road traffic accident the day before.
Eddie approached the public service counter and spoke to a Police Staff member. Eddie explained his attendance and proffered his son’s documents but these were curtly returned to him, on the basis that they were not the “original” documents required.
In the circumstances, Eddie asked to speak to the officer in charge of the Police Station.
After some time, an Inspector, Inspector Plimmer of West Midlands Police attended. Inspector Plimmer told Eddie he was being aggressive and to “Get out of his station.” Inspector Plimmer then grabbed Eddie by his right arm and left wrist and began to push him towards the doors. In so doing, Inspector Plimmer twisted Eddie’s wrist which was in a protective cast.
A passing officer, Sergeant Haynes intervened at this point and Eddie was ushered towards the foyer whereupon a third officer, PC Evans became involved. Eddie was then forcibly taken to the floor and pinned down by the three officers, one of whom was kneeling on his back.
Eddie explained that he was a disabled man and that he had a problem with his back. His pleas were ignored. He was then handcuffed, brought to his feet and taken into custody. He was then processed and eventually charged with behaving violently in a Police Station contrary to Section 29 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847. Eddie pleaded not guilty at court and prosecutors dropped the case at his trial in March 2010.
On Eddie’s behalf, I brought a claim against West Midlands Police. Liability was robustly disputed, and the case proceeded to trial at Birmingham County Court in December 2014 before Judge and Jury. After hearing evidence, the Jury found that Eddie had been unlawfully arrested, and therefore all use of force against him was similarly unlawful. Eddie took the case to trial to clear his good name. Having won, he then agreed to a £5,000 out of court settlement rather than trouble the jury any longer.
Also read: Man who was wrestled to the ground by Halesowen Police is awarded £5,000
