Sometimes the police may act in ways that are unethical, unprofessional or illegal. If this is the case, citizens can take action against the police officer. It is recommended that you take action if you have experienced discrimination, human rights breaches, excessive force, false imprisonment, illegal searches or any other transgression in order to hold them accountable and ensure it doesn’t happen to someone else.

It’s vital that we are able to trust our police force and taking action against them if they have done something wrong is vital to uphold standards.

Here’s what to do if you have been mistreated by a police officer.



What complaints can I make?

You may be unsure whether a police officer’s behaviour warrants a complaint, if this is the case, it may be worth talking to a solicitor, particularly if it falls under one of the following categories:

●     Assault and battery

●     Breaches of the Data Protection Act

●     Breaches of the Human Rights Act

●     False imprisonment, wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution

●     Negligence

●     Racial discrimination

●     Trespass to goods or property

How do I make a complaint?

If you want to make a complaint against a police officer, you will need to find solicitors that specialise in mistreatment by the police. You can choose to make a complaint or take the case to civil court. The solicitors representing you will need to have plenty of experience to understand what is required when the case is taken to the civil courts. They will handle your case with the utmost care and ensure an outcome is reached that is fair.

What happens if I make a complaint or take legal action?

The police will usually investigate your complaint to understand what happened and why it was allowed to happen and they will likely take one of the following steps:

●     Take no further action

●     Review or change a policy, process or procedure

●     Apologise

●     Give officers more training, counselling or advice

●     Discipline an officer

While it can be stressful to go through this process and only receive an apology, it’s often much better to do this than nothing at all. It shows the police that they will be held accountable for their actions and are much less likely to do it again.

Are you looking for a solicitor to help you take action against a police officer? North Ford Solicitors are available to help you every step of the way. We work hard to ensure every client we serve receives the outcome they deserve. We feel that it is important to take action if a police officer has acted unlawfully or unprofessionally. So get in touch with us today and we will help you with your case. For more information visit our website.