Malfeasance claims
Defence service for police forces in malfeasance claims
arising out of all aspects of modern day policing.
Every police force receives claims against its
officers for malfeasance, some more frequently than others. Whether
or not claims are justified, they inevitably result in the
commitment of time and resources to deal with them, and the
attendant publicity can sometimes be detrimental. For most
authorities, the most pressing need is for the cases to be dealt
with as quickly
and
cost-effectively as possible.
Weightmans' Malfeasance Claims specialists are
acknowledged as experts in this area of police law. We handle more
malfeasance claims than any other firm in private practice, and
have a long track record in achieving successful results for our
clients.
Whatever part of the country your force
operates in, and whether it is a large metropolitan or smaller
county force, you can draw on the vast experience and know-how of a
team of dedicated lawyers who fully understand your situation and
your requirements.
We act on a wide variety of malfeasance
claims, particularly wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution and
assault. The cases we handle range from the most serious High Court
actions, demanding dedicated litigation teams and involving complex
and sensitive investigations, to relatively minor technical claims
arising out of public order incidents.
Our in-depth understanding of the police
environment and procedures means we are able to manage proceedings
efficiently and help bring cases to an early conclusion, allowing
you to concentrate on your immediate day-to-day concerns.
We reconcile the competing demands and time
scales of parallel complaint investigations, and deal sensitively
with claims involving criminal allegations against officers, or
which raise issues of inappropriate behaviour, such as racism.
We have particular expertise in presenting
cases for juries, including preparation of witness statements,
drafting of questions and assessment of awards for damages and
exemplary damages.
We have been involved in a number of leading
cases in this area of law, including Rowlands v Chief Constable of
Merseyside (exemplary damages ), “N” v Chief Constable
of Merseyside (vicarious liability ), Ashley v Chief Constable of
Sussex (misfeasance in public office) and Van Colle v Hertfordshire
Police (human rights).
As part of our overall service, we regularly
run seminars and workshops, publish articles and provide
information bulletins in order to help you avoid problems and
handle malfeasance issues more effectively.