Actions Against Police

False imprisonment occurs when police detain you without lawful authority. This includes arrest without reasonable grounds, detention beyond lawful time limits, or continued detention after grounds for arrest have ceased. Even brief unlawful detention can give rise to a claim for compensation.

For most police misconduct claims, you have six years from the incident. However, Human Rights Act claims must be brought within one year. It's crucial to seek legal advice quickly to preserve evidence, obtain CCTV footage before it's deleted, and protect your rights.

Yes. If charges were dropped or you were found not guilty, this strengthens claims for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, or wrongful arrest. Even if you were convicted, you may still claim for excessive force, unlawful search, or other misconduct that occurred during your arrest or detention.

Compensation covers damages for unlawful detention, physical injuries, psychological harm, damage to reputation, loss of earnings, and any financial losses. In serious cases involving human rights breaches or malicious conduct, you may also recover aggravated or exemplary damages to reflect the gravity of police misconduct.

No. You don't need to go through the police complaints process before making a civil claim, though you may choose to do both. The complaints process and civil claims are separate. We can advise on whether making a complaint would benefit your case or whether to proceed directly with legal action.