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.