Civil actions against the police are important for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it is important that agents of the state, such as the police, prison officers and other detaining authorities, are held to account. The best way to do this is by vigorously testing their application of the law, and publicising when they fall short.

Secondly, the innocent victims of police abuse should be given a voice. We should never forget that people’s lives can be seriously affected by involvement with the police. Their faith in a just society can be questioned when they are unwittingly, and wrongly, involved with the police.

Thirdly, claiming compensation from the police when they act outside of the law is an important civil right which must be protected. This is particularly so when time and time again, they are completely let down and disillusioned by the Police Complaints system which in my opinion is a white-wash.

You can read more about the types of cases which resulted in compensation for police misconduct in the Case Reports section.