As a specialist solicitor in civil actions against the police, I write and speak openly about these cases for three clear reasons: to hold the police accountable, to give victims a voice, and to protect a fundamental legal right—the right to compensation when the state gets it wrong.
1. Holding the Police to Account
Police officers, prison staff, and other state agents are granted considerable powers. When they misuse those powers—whether by wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, assault, or abuse of position—they must be held to account.
Civil claims are one of the most effective ways to do this. By challenging the legality of their actions in court, and by sharing the outcomes publicly, we help shine a light on police misconduct that might otherwise go unaddressed.
2. Giving Innocent Victims a Voice
Too often, those affected by police abuse of power are overlooked. They may be marginalised, disbelieved, or dismissed by the complaints system. But their experiences matter. When innocent people are wrongly arrested, detained or mistreated, the impact on their lives can be severe—mentally, emotionally, professionally. Their faith in law and justice can be shattered.
My job is to make sure they are heard.
3. Protecting the Right to Compensation
Bringing a police compensation claim isn’t just about money—it’s about justice. Compensation serves as an acknowledgement that the police acted unlawfully, and that harm was caused.
This is especially vital in a system where the police complaints process often fails victims. In my experience, that process is too often a whitewash filled with errors and self-excuses. Civil claims offer a fairer, more rigorous route to truth, accountability, and redress.
I write about these issues because they matter. The public deserves transparency. Victims deserve justice. And those in power must be reminded: no one is above the law.
You can explore real examples of successful claims against the police and read about the compensation recovered for victims of police wrongdoing in the Case Reports section of this website.
