My client Steven Titchmarsh was a man of exemplary character, driving home from work one day in South West London. He was driving lawfully and within the speed limit in his own motor car, when he was suddenly pulled over by a Metropolitan Police Carrier van with its sirens blaring.
Steven got out of the car to speak to the first Officer who approached him, to be met with no explanation but rather an immediate demand that he give his car keys to the Officer. Instead, Steven reasonably requested that the Officer tell him what he was supposed to have done. The Officer suggested, on the basis of no evidence, that Steven might use his keys as a ‘weapon’ and then when Steven calmly continued to respond by asking what he was supposed to have done wrong to justify a Police stop, the Officer grabbed hold of his arm without warning.
Other Officers then joined in and pinned Steven up against the side of his car, before forcing him to the ground, during which Steven banged his head. Steven was then pinned to the ground by a number of Officers.
He was trussed up in both handcuffs and leg restraints and informed he was under arrest for allegedly breaching the Public Order Act by ‘swearing’.
Shortly afterwards, Steven heard one of the Officers claiming that the smell of cannabis was in the air and feared that the Officers might ‘plant’ something in his car to incriminate him and justify their reckless actions against him. Steven had never in his life used drugs.
Steven was then manhandled into the back of a van and taken to a nearby Police station. He complained that the handcuffs were too tight and were hurting him, but was ignored.
Instead, the Officers told Steven he was under arrest for not only Public Order but also for having hit the first Police Officer in the face.
Steven was now subjected to the further indignity of a strip search.
Eventually Steven was released from custody but then prosecuted. Eleven months later, Steven faced trial when at the last hour, the CPS suddenly announced that all charges were withdrawn.
Steven brought a claim against the Met Police for wrongful arrest, assault and malicious prosecution and recovered £46,000 damages after court proceedings were instituted.
