There is no right at common law to have a solicitor present during a police interview. There was no infringement of the suspect’s human rights by the Northern Ireland Rules. The House discussed its ability to take the law forward: ‘It is true that the House has a power to develop the law. But it … Continue reading Regina v Chief Constable of The Royal Ulster Constabulary Ex Parte Begley; Regina v McWilliams: HL 24 Jul 1997
The applicant had been detained pending extradition to the United States on charges of fraud. He said the evidence would not have been sufficient to justify his committal for trial. Held: The Francis case did not establish that the 1984 Act did not apply to extradition procceedings, and they might also be admissible under the … Continue reading In Re Levin; Regina v Governor of Brixton Prison, Ex parte Levin: HL 10 Apr 1997
HL (Hong Kong) A challenge on the admissibility of an admission is not inconsistent with a denial that it had been made; one is question for judge, the other a question of fact for the jury. Lord Hutton aid that Lord Bridge’s speech in Ajodha was not to be read restrictively as limited to written … Continue reading Thongjai v the Queen; Lee Chun-Kong v the Queen: PC 5 Aug 1997
The Magistrates appealed against an order of mandamus requiring a case to be stated after rejecting the request by the authority as frivolous. The authority had sought to prevent the emission of noise from land used for a Motocross racing track. Held: The appeal succeeded. Magistrates refusing to state a case should give brief reasons … Continue reading Regina v Mildenhall Magistrates’ Court, Ex Parte Forest Heath District Council; Regina v North West Suffolk (Mildenhall) Magistrates’ Court ex parte Forest Heath District Council: CA 16 Apr 1997
Judicial Review is not the appropriate way to challenge the excessive nature of a search warrant issues by magistrates. A private law remedy is better. Jowitt J said: ‘Judicial review is not a fact finding exercise and it is an extremely unsatisfactory tool by which to determine, in any but the clearest of cases, whether … Continue reading Regina v Chief Constable for Warwickshire and Others Ex Parte Fitzpatrick and Others: QBD 1 Oct 1997
Head teacher has no statutory duty to investigate offences inside school and has no obligation to follow PACE procedures. Citations: Times 24-Nov-1997 Statutes: Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 67(9) Criminal Practice Updated: 19 May 2022; Ref: scu.80003
Policemen were convicted by the stipendiary magistrate of an offence under 1990 Act. They had requested a police computer operator to obtain information from the Police National Computer about the ownership and registration of two cars for their own purposes. They had no authority to make that request or to obtain that information for that … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Bignell and Another: QBD 6 Jun 1997
A search warrant had been obtained under the 1913 Act. The court considered the existence of a tort of obtaining a search warrant maliciously.Waller LJ discussed the problem facing police officers when a large volume of material were to be examined: ‘To do a detailed examination in the house would no doubt have required several … Continue reading Reynolds v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: 1985
An award of aggravated damages should not be an extra sum over and above the sum which the Tribunal of fact considers appropriate compensation for the injury to the claimants feelings, and that aggravated damages should not be treated as an extra award which reflects a degree of punishment of a respondent for its behaviour. … Continue reading McConnell v Police Authority for Northern Ireland: 1997
The claimant had begun proceedings for the return of money held by the respondent. His action was stayed for inactivity, and the respondent later had the claim struck out on the basis that it would be an abuse of process to proceed. Held: The claim could still be tried without unfairness, and accordingly it should … Continue reading Fay v Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police: QBD 6 Feb 2003
Evidence in support of an application for a witness’ statement which was to be read out, should be supported by oral evidence, though that may properly be given by a police officer. Citations: (1991) 92 Cr App R 98 Statutes: Criminal Justice Act 1988 23(3) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Lobban, Regina … Continue reading Regina v Acton Justices ex parte McMullen and others: CACD 1991
The court considered the retention of information about an unsubstantiated child sexual abuse allegation. Judges: Dyson J Citations: [2000] 1 FLR 612 Statutes: Police Act 1997 115(7) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Regina (X) v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police QBD 23-Jan-2004 The claimant, a social worker, had been accused of … Continue reading Regina v Local Authority and Police Authority in the Midlands, ex parte LM: 2000
The police were not under any duty to protect someone who had been arrested from injuring himself in an attempt to escape. The claimant had a history of seeking to avoid capture by jumping from his flat window. On this occasion he injured himself in the fall. The doctrine of ex turpi no oritur actio … Continue reading Vellino v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police: CA 31 Jul 2001
Police officers who had just seen a serious crime (of supplying or offering to supply heroin) being committed from within premises were held to be entitled to force entry to the premises with a view to apprehending the person who was suspected of having committed the crime. Citations: 1997 SCCR 787 Jurisdiction: Scotland Cited by: … Continue reading Campbell v Vannet: 1997
(New Zealand Court of Appeal) Mr Garrett claimed damages for financial loss and damage to her reputation caused by the alleged failure of the police to investigate her complaint that she had been raped by a police constable in a police station. Held: The court relied on Three Rivers. Blanchard J agreed: ‘that it is … Continue reading Garrett v Attorney-General: 1997
(New Zealand Court of Appeal) The plaintiff asserted that a non-molestation order had been made against him by the defendant District Court Judge without jurisdiction and in breach of natural justice. He sued, in tort, for misfeasance in public office and breach of statutory duty. Held: To succeed in a claim of misfeasance in public … Continue reading Rawlinson v Rice: 1997
The court described the offence of affray: ‘It typically involves a group of people who may well be shouting, struggling, threatening, waving weapons, throwing objects, exchanging and threatening blows and so on.’ Judges: Lord Bingham of Cornhill CJ Citations: [1997] 1 Cr App R 14 Statutes: Public Order Act 1986 3(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Regina v Smith: CACD 1997
If the party seeking discovery showed that the documents might be necessary for a fair disposal of the action, an order should normally only be refused after the court had examined the documents and considered them in the light of the material already in the applicant’s possession. Simon Brown LJ said: ‘Disclosure will be necessary … Continue reading Wallace Smith Trust v Deloitte Haskins and Sells: CA 1997
A report obtained for Children Act proceedings has no privilege against use in evidence. Such proceedings are in the nature of inquisitorial proceedings. Litigation privilege was not applicable in care proceedings and a report prepared may be given to the police. Litigation privilege is essentially a creature of adversarial proceedings and thus cannot exist in … Continue reading In Re L (A Minor) (Police Investigation: Privilege): HL 22 Mar 1996
The deceased was a prisoner known to be at risk of committing suicide. Whilst in police custody he hanged himself in his prison cell. The Commissioner accepted that he was in breach of his duty of care to the deceased, but not that that breach was caustive of the death by suicide. Held: Police and … Continue reading Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis v Reeves (Joint Administratix of The Estate of Martin Lynch, Deceased): HL 15 Jul 1999
The hospital authorities applied ex parte and were granted a declaration which dispensed with the applicant’s consent to medical treatment. Held: Her appeal was allowed. A declaration (especially one affecting an individual’s personal autonomy) ought not to be made on an ex parte basis, not least because it would be ineffective to achieve its purpose … Continue reading Regina v Collins; Pathfinder Mental Health Services NHS Trust and St Georges Health Care NHS Trust ex parte M S: CA 3 Jul 1997
The fact that the deceased committed suicide whilst in custody does not necessarily absolve the police of blame if the deceased was a known suicide risk. Citations: Times 20-Nov-1997, Gazette 03-Dec-1997, (1998) 41 BMLR 54, [1998] 2 All ER 381, [1999] QB 169, [1998] 2 WLR 401, [1997] EWCA Civ 2686 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England … Continue reading Reeves (Joint Administratrix of the Estate of Martin Lynch, Deceased) v Commissioner of Police for Metropolis: CA 10 Nov 1997
Having closed their case, the prosecution applied for and were granted opportunity to adduce evidence in the form of certificates under section 69. Held: The court had a discretion to allow further evidence. The magistrates had correctly considered the applicable law, and applied the discretion given to them properly. Citations: [1997] EWHC Admin 308 Statutes: … Continue reading Yearly v Crown Prosecution Service: Admn 21 Mar 1997
The applicant sought that summonses be set aside as an abuse of process, being begun to embarrass him as he set out to become an MP. Thirty one private summonses had been issued. Held: Of the summonses to be continued it could not be said that they had no prospect of success or that they … Continue reading Regina v Leeds Magistrates Court ex parte Serif Systems Limited and Hamilton: Admn 9 Oct 1997
No duty of care was owed by senior police officers to a policewoman raped by a colleague in a police house or for distress caused by their reaction to her complaint. Citations: Times 21-Jul-1997 Statutes: Police Act 1996 88 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Negligence Updated: 10 April 2022; Ref: scu.90206
When the defendant charged with indecent assault was remanded on bail to await trial, the magistrate ordered that there should be no report of the proceedings at that stage because of the defendant’s concerns that publicity would lead to his being attacked; this would frustrate the administration of justice because he might no longer be … Continue reading Regina v Newtonabbey Magistrates Court Ex Parte Belfast Telegraph Newspapers Ltd: CANI 27 Aug 1997
EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Case management PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Amendment PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Time limits Neither the procedural common law doctrine of ‘relation back’ (now defunct – see Beecham Group plc v Norton Healthcare Ltd [1997] FSR 81, Liff v Peasley [1980] 1 WLR 781 and Ketteman v Hansel Properties Ltd [1987] … Continue reading Galilee v The Commissioner of Police of The Metropolis: EAT 22 Nov 2017
Judges: Morison J (P) Citations: [1997] UKEAT 559 – 97 – 1605 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: See Also – Commissioner of Police for Metropolis v Lowrey-Nesbitt EAT 13-Jul-1998 A police officer does not work under a contract of employment for Employment Rights Act purposes and so may not claim for unlawful … Continue reading Lowrey-Nesbitt v Commissioner of Police of Metropolis: EAT 16 May 1997
The appellants had been peacefully protesting at Stonehenge. They were among others who refused to leave when ordered to do so under an order made by the police officer in charge declaring it to be a trespassory assembly under the 1986 Act. They appealed saying that the assemply had been on a public highway, and … Continue reading Jones and Lloyd v Director of Public Prosecutions: Admn 23 Jan 1997
The claimant had been released from prison and sought to be housed as a homeless person. He said that his imprisonment brought him within the category of having special need. He also claimed damages for the breach. Held: The Act was intended to confer a general social benefit of reducing homelessness, not a right in … Continue reading O’Rourke v Mayor etc of the London Borough of Camden: HL 12 Jun 1997
Police Obligations to Witnesses is Limited A prosecution witness was murdered by the accused shortly before his trial. The parents of the deceased alleged that the failure of the police to protect their son was a breach of article 2. Held: The House was asked ‘If the police are alerted to a threat that D … Continue reading Hertfordshire Police v Van Colle; Smith v Chief Constable of Sussex Police: HL 30 Jul 2008
The claimants, Pakistani students in the UK on student visas, had been arrested and held by the defendants under the 2000 Act before being released 13 days later without charge. They were at first held incognito. They said that their arrest and detentions had been unlawful since they had not been given sufficient information about … Continue reading Sher and Others v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and Others: Admn 21 Jul 2010
A police officer does not work under a contract of employment for Employment Rights Act purposes and so may not claim for unlawful deduction from wages under the Act. Employment is a special statutory relationship, not contractual. Citations: Times 29-Jul-1998, [1998] UKEAT 952 – 97 – 1307 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See … Continue reading Commissioner of Police for Metropolis v Lowrey-Nesbitt: EAT 13 Jul 1998
No collateral attack on Jury findigs. An attempt was made to open up in a civil action, allegations of assaults by the police prior to the making of confessions which had been disposed of in a voir dire in the course of a criminal trial. The plaintiffs had imprisoned having spent many years after conviction … Continue reading Hunter v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police: HL 19 Nov 1981
The claimant had been convicted of the murder of his girlfriend. On his acquittal on appeal, the police criticised the CPS decision not to retry the claimant, in effect, the claimant now said, continuing the accusation against him, and so defaming him. The defendant pleaded justification. Held: The prosecution case rested in substantial part on … Continue reading Bento v The Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police: QBD 1 Jun 2012
The claimants, two solicitors and their employer firm sought damages alleging trespass and malicious procurement by police officers in obtaining and executing search warrants against the firm in 2007 when they were investigating suspected offences of money laundering. Clients of the firm had been arrested and convicted of drug dealing related offences. The firm was … Continue reading Fitzpatrick and Others v The Commissioner of Police of The Metropolis: QBD 11 Jan 2012
Complaints had been made that the police were not deleting from their criminal records very old records of minor convictions. The police appealed against a finding that they should do so under Data Protection Principles. The Police had used a policy agreed with the Respondent, but had withdrawn it following the Bichard inquiry, and replaced … Continue reading Chief Constable of Humberside Police and Others v The Information Commissioner and Another: CA 19 Oct 2009
Rebalancing of Enhanced Disclosure Requirements The Court was asked as to the practice of supplying enhanced criminal record certificates under the 1997 Act. It was said that the release of reports of suspicions was a disproportionate interference in the claimants article 8 rights to a private life. The enhanced record revealed that the claimant’s son … Continue reading L, Regina (On the Application of) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: SC 29 Oct 2009
Mr Seal noisily objected to a neighbour blocking in his car. Police were called who took him into custody under the 1983 Act. He was released several days later, and eventually sought damages for his wrongful treatment. He had failed to first seek permission from the court as was required by s139(2). Held: The appeal … Continue reading Seal v Chief Constable of South Wales Police: CA 19 May 2005
Prosecutor’s appeal against dismissal of charge of failing to provide specimen of breath on bais that police had failed properly to follow the procedures. [1997] EWHC Admin 1046 Road Traffic Act 1988 7(6) England and Wales Road Traffic Updated: 04 January 2022; Ref: scu.137991
A previous conviction of the defendant for a drugs related offence was admissible on a civil application for the forfeiture of cash said to represent the proceeds of drug trafficking under the section 43(1). The court observed that the circumstances in which similar fact evidence would be admitted in a criminal trial were closely circumscribed … Continue reading Regina v Isleworth Crown Court ex parte Marland: Admn 28 Oct 1997
An award of costs is inevitable after a finding of statutory nuisance and such costs include cost of establishing the nuisance. ‘The wide discretion as to whether to grant an adjournment conferred by section 10 and section 54 of the Magistrates’ Court Act 1980 cannot, usually, be impugned. But it is a power which must … Continue reading Regina v Dudley Magistrates Court ex parte Hollis; Robert v Same: Admn 25 Nov 1997
The applicant had been convicted of a robbery and served a long prison sentence. After release he was awarded damages against some of the police officers for assault. The DPP decided not to proceed against the officers by way of criminal proceedings. The applicant’s conviction was later quashed. The prosecutor replied saying he had applied … Continue reading Regina v Director of Public Prosecutions ex parte Treadaway: Admn 31 Jul 1997
Police Data Retention Justifiable The appellants challenged the collection of data by the police, alleging that its retention interfered with their Article 8 rights. C complained of the retention of records of his lawful activities attending political demonstrations, and T complained of the retention of an harassment warning issued against him. The Commissioner now appealed … Continue reading Catt and T, Regina (on The Applications of) v Commissioner of Police of The Metropolis: SC 4 Mar 2015
The claimant, a social worker, had been accused of two offences of indecency with children, but the complainants had failed to identify him. The respondent later disclosed those allegations when called upon to provide an enhanced criminal record certificate. The claimant made complaint. Held: The Act gave the respondent a discretion, but did nothing to … Continue reading Regina (X) v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police: QBD 23 Jan 2004
The Home Secretary may not later extend the tariff for a lifer, after it had been set by an earlier Home Secretary, merely to satisfy needs of retribution and deterrence: ‘A power conferred by Parliament in general terms is not to be taken to authorise the doing of acts by the donee of the power … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department, Ex Parte Pierson: HL 24 Jul 1997
EAT Jurisdictional Points: Extension of Time: Just and Equitable – Having concluded that it was not possible to determine whether the Claimant’s claims (of disability discrimination by reason of a failure to make reasonable adjustments) were brought out of time without hearing all the evidence (and, thus, would need to be considered at a Full … Continue reading British Transport Police v Norman (Jurisdictional Points: Extension of Time: Just and Equitable): EAT 2 Mar 2015
The employer appealed against a decision by the tribunal that it had jurisdiction to hear the complaints of sex discrimination. The tribunal had extended the time for the claim on the just and equitable basis. Held: The EAT set out five criteria for answering whether to extend time: ‘(a) the length of and reasons for … Continue reading British Coal Corporation v Keeble and others: EAT 26 Mar 1997
Public Identification of Pedophiles by Police AB and CB had been released from prison after serving sentences for sexual assaults on children. They were thought still to be dangerous. They moved about the country to escape identification, and came to be staying on a campsite. The police sought to co-operate in the resettlement of the … Continue reading Regina v Chief Constable of North Wales Police and Others Ex Parte Thorpe and Another; Regina v Chief Constable for North Wales Police Area and others ex parte AB and CB: CA 18 Mar 1998
The claimant sought damages for malicious prosecution, and sought to adduce similar fact evidence. The defendant appealed an order admitting the evidence. Held: Comparisons between admission of similar fact evidence in civil and criminal proceedings were made. In general, the greater the putative force of the evidence the less ready a court should be to … Continue reading O’Brien v Chief Constable of the South Wales Police: CA 23 Jul 2003
The claimant sought judicial review of the enhanced criminal record certificate issued by the respondent on his application for a licence as a private hire driver. Raynor QC [2013] EWHC B19 (Admin) Bailii Police Act 1997 113B England and Wales Police Updated: 21 November 2021; Ref: scu.516453
The claimant alleged infringement by the defendant of assorted intellectual property rights in its database. It provided systems for recovering materials deleted from Nokia mobile phones. Held: ‘the present case is concerned with a collection of numerical data . . the individual items of data are not protected by copyright. It follows that the collection … Continue reading Forensic Telecommunications Services Ltd v West Yorkshire Police and Another: ChD 9 Nov 2011
Coastguard Not liable in Negligence Eight children with a teacher and two instructors set off on a canoeing trip but did not return. They got into difficulties at sea. Two became separated from the rest. The canoes capsized and sank. Some tried to swim ashore. Two more members became separated. They were all eventually rescued … Continue reading OLL Ltd v Secretary of State for Transport: QBD 22 Jul 1997
Three cases were brought against fire services after what were said to be negligent responses to call outs. On one, the fire brigade was called to a fire at office premises in Hampshire. The fire triggered the operation of a heat-activated sprinkler system, but on arrival a fire brigade officer gave instructions for the sprinkler … Continue reading Capital and Counties Plc and Another v Hampshire County Council; Etc: CA 20 Mar 1997
[1997] UKEAT 621 – 97 – 1411 Bailii England and Wales Citing: Cited – Owusu v London Fire and Civil Defence Authority EAT 1-Mar-1995 The employee complained of his employer’s repeated failure to regrade him, and alleged discrimination. The employer said his claim was out of time. Held: Mummery J made the distinction between single … Continue reading South Wales Police v Walters and others: EAT 14 Nov 1997
The plaintiffs had been indicted on counts alleging conspiracy to import drugs and conspiracy to forge traveller’s cheques. During the criminal trial it emerged that there had been such inadequate disclosure by the police that the proceedings were stayed as an abuse of process. The plaintiffs then instituted civil proceedings alleging conspiracy to injure and … Continue reading Darker v Chief Constable of The West Midlands Police: HL 1 Aug 2000
The court was asked to decide from whom DNA samples could lawfully be taken by the Police,and for how long they should be kept. The first respondent now said that a declaration of incompatibility of section 64(1A) could not be avoided. Held: (Majority: Lord Dyson, Lord Phillips, Lady Hale, Lord Judge and Lord Kerr. Dissenting: … Continue reading GC v The Commissioner of Police of The Metropolis: SC 18 May 2011
met_shawEAT2011 EAT VICTIMISATION DISCRIMINATION – RemedyThe Claimant, an officer in the Metropolitan Police, reported dishonest conduct by a colleague. As a result of his complaint, the colleague and his superior officer had him suspended on unfounded disciplinary charges, which were collusively supported by a more senior officer. The charges were in due course dropped, but … Continue reading Commisioner of Police of The Metropolis v Shaw: EAT 29 Nov 2011
The claimant was a male to female trans-sexual who had been refused employment as a police officer by the respondent, who had said that the staturory requirement for males to search males and for females to search females would be impossible to comply with. She had sought to be employed on the basis that her … Continue reading A v West Yorkshire Police: HL 6 May 2004
A defendant had appealed against his conviction for manslaughter and related offences by deliberately subjecting women to the risk of being infected by him with HIV virus. The applicant, Z, had been married to the defendant, and infected by him with HIV. Z’s doctors had been required to give evidence about her medical condition in … Continue reading Z v Finland: ECHR 25 Feb 1997
The claimant received injuries when arrested. He was later convicted of resisting arrest. The defendant relied on section 329 of the 2003 Act. The claimant said that the force used against him was grossly disproportionate. The commissioner appealed against a refusal to strike out the claim, saying that consent to the action should have been … Continue reading Adorian v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: CA 23 Jan 2009
The claimant challenged the terms of an enhanced Criminal Records Certificate issued by the defendant. He had been warned in 2002 for suspicion of theft of two cycles. The record had been stepped down in 2009, but then re-instated. He wished to enter a sports studies degree. Held: The application for review was unsuccessful. Parker … Continue reading T, Regina (on The Application of) v Greater Manchester Police and Another: Admn 9 Feb 2012
The appellant challenged the extension of time given to the claimant to begin his claim for disability discrimination. Held: The appeal failed: ‘the discretion under the Statute is at large. It falls to be exercised ‘in all the circumstances of the case’ and the only qualification is that the EJ has to consider that it … Continue reading Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police v Caston: CA 8 Dec 2009
ComC Misfeasance in public office. Assuming ingredients of tort as reported at [1996] 3 ALL ER 558 at 582-3, was claim bound to fail? All plaintiffs’ evidence now available to court. On that evidence plaintiffs bound to fail. No reasonable prospect of material becoming available in future to assist plaintiffs. No arguable case that Bank … Continue reading Three Rivers District Council and Another v The Bank of England (No. 3): ComC 30 Jul 1997
halford_ukECHR1997 The interception of the telephone calls of an employee in a private exchange was a breach of her right of privacy. She had a reasonable expectation of privacy. The police force’s surveillances of the applicant’s telephone (to obtain information regarding a sex discrimination claim she was pursuing in the employment tribunal) was a ‘serious … Continue reading Halford v The United Kingdom: ECHR 25 Jun 1997
The claimant sought unredacted disclosure of documents by the second defendant so that he could pursue an action against the first, who, he said, were thought to have intercepted his mobile phone messages, and where the second defendant had documents which he said would support his claim. The second defendant sought to argue public interest … Continue reading Andrew v News Group Newspapers Ltd and Commissioner of the Police for the Metropolis: ChD 18 Mar 2011
Account taken of circumstances wihout ambiguity The respondent gave advice on home income plans. The individual claimants had assigned their initial claims to the scheme, but later sought also to have their mortgages in favour of the respondent set aside. Held: Investors having once assigned their causes of action to the ICS, could not later … Continue reading Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society: HL 19 Jun 1997
Stolen cars had been recovered by the police, incurring the costs of removal. The insurers (now the owners) objected to the payment of fees before the cars were restored. They said that as owners they were exempt from mcharges imposed by section 102 of the 1984 Act. The defendant recoveryy service appealed. Held: The appeal … Continue reading Service Motor Policies at Lloyds v City Recovery Limited: CA 9 Jul 1997
Allowance of Stigma Damages The employees claimed damages, saying that the way in which their employer had behaved during their employment had led to continuing losses, ‘stigma damages’ after the termination. Held: It is an implied term of any contract of employment that the employer shall not without reasonable and proper cause conduct itself in … Continue reading Malik v Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI); Mahmud v Bank of Credit and Commerce International: HL 12 Jun 1997
The plaintiff had killed someone and, as a result, been convicted of manslaughter and ordered to be detained in a secure hospital when subject to after-care under section 117 of the 1983 Act. He sought damages from the health authority on the basis that he would not have killed anyone but for negligence on the … Continue reading Clunis (By his Next Friend Prince) v Camden and Islington Health Authority: CA 5 Dec 1997
When the court looked at the issue of foreseeability of murder in an allegation of joint enterprise, there was no requirement to show intent by the secondary party. The forseeability of the risk of the principal committing the offence from the point of view of the secondary party is sufficient. The question certified was ‘Is … Continue reading Regina v Powell (Anthony) and Another; Regina v English: HL 30 Oct 1997
A lorry belonging to the defendants failed to take a bend crashing into the plaintiffs’ shop causing extensive damage. Mr Terence Tarleton, the driver later died, as did Mrs Mansfield. Mr Tarleton did not know he had malignant insulinoma, resulting in a hypoglycaemic state in which the brain was starved of glucose and so was … Continue reading Mansfield and Another v Weetabix Limited and Another: CA 26 Mar 1997
gregory_ukECHR1997 A judge’s direction to the jury to disregard any question of racial bias was sufficient to ensure a fair trial for the defendant. In discussing the protection of the secrecy of jury deliberations: ‘The court acknowledges that the rule governing the secrecy of jury deliberations is a crucial and legitimate feature of English trial … Continue reading Gregory v The United Kingdom: ECHR 25 Feb 1997
The claimant, a teacher, said he had been unlawfully arrested and detained after an allegation of assault from a pupil. Having attended the police station voluntarily, he said that the circumstances did not satisfy the required precondition that an arrest was necessary. He said that the fact of the arrest would operate against him in … Continue reading Richardson v The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police: QBD 29 Mar 2011
The claimant requested the court to set aside a caution accepted by her, when she said that she had not understood the serious consequences and had not admitted the offence. Held: It was for each Chief Constable to draft his own policy, but taking proper account of Hoe Office and other guidance. Nevertheless, the paperwork … Continue reading Stratton, Regina (on The Application of) v Thames Valley Police: Admn 7 Jun 2013
The authority insured its primary liability for compensation under the 1886 Act through the claimants and the excess of liability through re-insurers. The parties sought clarification from the court of the respective liabilities of the insurance companies and as to whether the compensation under the Acts counted as damages under the policies. The syndicate said … Continue reading Bedfordshire Police Authority v Constable and others: ComC 20 Jun 2008
The defendant was accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he had made silent phone calls which were taken as threatening. Held: An assault might consist of the making of a silent telephone call in circumstances where it causes fear of immediate and unlawful violence. The court asked how is it to be determined … Continue reading Regina v Burstow, Regina v Ireland: HL 24 Jul 1997
The respondent had withheld part of the plaintiff’s GP payments saying that he had failed to devote himself full time to his practice. The plaintiff sued, and the defendant sought to strike out his application, saying that his application had to be by way of public law action through a judicial review. Held: The fact … Continue reading Roy v Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster Family Practitioner Committee: HL 6 Feb 1992
There had been, over some years, ‘saturation coverage’ of the relationship between a television personality and her boyfriend. Disclosures were made about his violence and his previous convictions. He came to be arrested and charged with a serious assault. Some newspapers published articles about the alleged incident. He successfully applied for the proceedings to be … Continue reading Attorney General v MGN Limited: CA 1997
Stay for Extended Autrefois Convict The plea of autrefois convict applies only if the legal substance of the charges is same but the judge has a discretion. The plea is not limited to Connelly v DPP definitions, but is still narrow.A 19-year-old girl died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a rented flat. The CO2 gas … Continue reading Regina v Beedie: CACD 11 Mar 1997
Nine police officers claimed damages for alleged harassment under the 1997 Act by a senior officer in having bullied them and ordered them to carry out unlawful procedures. Amendments were sought which were alleged to be out of time and to have arisen from different facts. Held: Amendments were allowed where they arose from the … Continue reading Dowson and Others v Northumbria Police: QBD 30 Apr 2009
The Court upheld decisions striking out actions for negligence brought by claimants who had been arrested and held in custody during criminal investigations which were later discontinued. The Crown Prosecution Service owes no general duty of care to a defendant in its conduct of a prosecution. The court must not confuse the immunity rule which … Continue reading Elguzouli-Daf v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and Another: CA 16 Nov 1994
The defendant had been convicted, under regulations made under the Act, of smoking in a railway carriage. He sought to challenge the validity of the regulations themselves. He wanted to argue that the power to ban smoking on carriages did not . .
The claimant appealed from the rejection of his claim in negligence against the police. He had been arrested on suspicion of a sexual assault, but the investigating officer concluded that he was not responsible for the crime. Despite this, several . .
The claimant appealed against the striking out of parts of his claim alleging negligence and misfeasance. He had been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault, but then was fully cleared by a third officer. When he later applied for an enhanced CRB . .
The appellant had been tried for and acquitted on a criminal charge. He now challenged the disclosure by the respondent of the charge in an Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate.
Held: His appeal failed. The critical question was whether the . .
A prosecution for sado-masochist acts was a necessary invasion of privacy to protect health. The Court found no violation where applicants were imprisoned as a result of sado-masochistic activities captured on video tape when police obtained . .
The three claimants were police officers. They met a senior MP at Sutton Coldfield. They emerged from the meeting and were said to have made misleading statements as to the content of the meeting. The IPCC referred the matters back to local forces . .
The claimants asserted negligence in the defendant in failing to provide an adequate response to an emergency call, leading, they said to the death of their daughter at the hands of her violent partner. They claimed also under the 1998 Act. The . .
The Court was asked whether the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (‘the Commissioner’) owes a duty to her officers, in the conduct of proceedings against her based on their alleged misconduct, to take reasonable care to protect them from . .
ECHR Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Preliminary objection rejected (estoppel); Violation of Art. 3; Violation of Art. 13; Not necessary to examine Art. 6-1; No violation of Art. 25-1; Not necessary to . .
The claimant had been accused of offences, but the prosecution had been discontinued when the child victims had failed to identify him. The police had nevertheless notified potential employers and he had been unable to obtain work as a social . .
The claimant sought judicial review of the enhanced criminal record issued by the respondents when he sought a licence as a private hire driver. He had been tried and acquitted on a charge of rape.
Held: The request for review failed.
The claimant complained that despite his acquittal after trial on a charge of rape, the accusation was revealed by the defendant on application for an enhanced criminal record certificate.
Held: The information contained in the certificate . .
The claimant police officer was severely injured making an arrest. He claimed damages from the respondent for contributory negligence of other officers in failing to come to his assistance.
Held: If a police officer owes a duty of care to . .
The obtaining of an order to obtain evidence in support of a writ of habeas corpus application is a criminal matter. The Court of Appeal has no civil jurisdiction. Extradition proceedings, as well as proceedings ancillary or incidental to those . .
The defendant appealed against his sentence for dangerous driving. Penalty points imposed on his licence at the same time as imprisonment were expunged immediately. He had appeared to attempt to flee the police in a car chase.
Held: The . .
The defendants, operators of licensed sex shops, appealed convictions for offences under the Act. The shops had supplied videos rated R*18 by mail order from the shops. The Trading Standards Officer said this did not satisfy the requirement that . .
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The claimant challenged the decision of the respondent not to remove certain historical facts from disclosure in the enhanced Criminal Record Certificate issued by them. Held: The caim was successful. Judges: Stuart-Smith J Citations: [2013] EWHC 869 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Police Act 1997 113B Jurisdiction: England and Wales Police Updated: 17 November 2022; Ref: … Continue reading L, Regina (on The Application of) v Cumbria Constabulary: Admn 19 Apr 2013
