The Actions Against the Police team is pleased to confirm the successful settlement of a claim against the Metropolitan Police. The claim concluded just over one working day before it was due to proceed to a jury trial, with the Metropolitan Police agreeing to pay £20,000 in damages plus our client’s legal costs.
Our client was referred to us by Pickwicks Solicitors, and the claim concerned two separate incidents involving police conduct.
Incident 1 – Arrest at Charing Cross Police Station
In February 2020, our client attended Charing Cross Police Station by prior appointment to meet an officer. She had arranged the meeting to discuss and provide evidence regarding allegations of harassment she had made against her former partner.
While waiting in an interview room, the officer investigating cross-allegations made against our client by her former partner entered the room, arrested her, handcuffed her, and took her into custody.
Incident 2 – Protest Arrest During COVID Lockdown
In March 2021, our client participated in a protest concerning the felling of mature trees as part of a housing redevelopment scheme. Protesters argued that private contractors were taking advantage of the COVID lockdown to proceed with the works despite the local authority indicating that further consultation was required.
Police officers attending the scene informed protesters they had 30 minutes to disperse. After that time, they would be issued with Penalty Notices for breaches of COVID regulations and could be arrested if they failed to provide their details.
As protesters began to disperse, officers directed the arrest of a particular protester. Our client briefly intervened in support. She was pushed out of the way by the acting Police Sergeant, the senior officer present. Our client pushed the officer’s arm away, after which the officer grabbed her, spun her around, forced her into a parked car and handcuffed her behind her back, directing that she be arrested for assaulting a police officer.
Body Worn Video Evidence
Body Worn Video footage from the incident and its aftermath showed the officer making derogatory remarks about our client and comments suggesting a willingness to contrive grounds for arrest as a method of dispersing the crowd, without any genuine expectation that criminal charges would follow.
Legal Claims
In relation to both incidents, we brought claims against the Metropolitan Police for:
The claim ultimately settled shortly before trial, with the Metropolitan Police agreeing to pay £20,000 in damages plus legal costs.
