Police Law

Overview

Deka Chambers are a leading police law set with members having represented various police forces in some of the most significant and prominent police cases in recent years.

Various members of chambers are rated by the legal directories as leaders in the field having represented police forces before all tribunals from the Supreme Court to the Magistrates.

Chambers’ work encompasses civil actions concerning fatal shootings, deaths in custody, misfeasance (including wrongful arrest and false imprisonment), personal injury and claims of assault, human rights act claims, judicial review proceedings, matters relating to data protection and privacy, inquests, police conduct and operational matters.

Barristers also regularly give training to forces and regional crime units on a variety of procedural and operational matters.

Areas of Expertise

• Civil disputes concerning the police at High Court and County Court level
• Police misconduct
• Operational matters
• Civil proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
• Employers’ Liability and Public Liability claims
• Judicial review proceedings
• Data Protection and Privacy claims
• Applications under section 139 of the Mental Health Act 1983
• Inquests
• Public Inquiries
• Disciplinary proceedings and Police Authority appeals concerning serving officers
• Police led applications such Sex Offender Orders, Proceeds of Crime Orders, Closure Orders and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders
• Firearms applications and appeals

Notable Cases

• Tindall v Chief Constable of Thames Valley [2022] RTR 16
• Archer v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2022] 2 WLR 528
• Hillsborough litigation [2021]
• Chief Constable of Essex Police v Transport Arendonk BVBA [2020] 1 WLUK 192 – Appeal of a refusal to strike out a claim in negligence brought by a haulier whose lorry was robbed whilst the driver was lawfully under arrest.
• Parker v Chief Constable of Essex [2019] 1 WLR 2238 – A person who is unlawfully arrested is nevertheless entitled only to nominal damages if he would have been arrested lawfully had the police realised their mistake.
• Brown v Metropolitan Police Commissioner [2019] EWCA Civ 1724 – No automatic QOWCS protection for a personal injury claimant who includes other causes of action in the claim.
• James-Bowen v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2018] UKSC 40 – Successfully represented the Commissioner in the Supreme Court in this case concerning whether employers owe a duty of care to their employees in the way in which they conduct litigation.
• Van Colle v Chief Constable of Hertfordshire [2009] 1 AC 225
• Ashley v Chief Constable of Sussex [2008] 1 AC 962
• A v Hoare [2008] 1 AC 844

Awards