Background
Mr Matthew McConville, Head of Irvings Law’s specialist Actions Against the Police, has successfully represented a client in a claim for compensation against Cleveland Police. Due to confidentiality, the client will be referred to as Mrs E.
Whilst Mrs E was at home with her son, an enforcement agent attended her property informing her that she owed money due to an unpaid parking fine. What the said enforcement agent did not know as that Mrs E had in fact successfully challenged the same so she informed him of this before she then went back inside her home. A little while later, Mrs E noticed that the said enforcement agent had clamped her car and so she attempted to remove it albeit she was unsuccessful in doing so. On top of clamping Mrs E’s car, the said enforcement agent also rang Cleveland Police whereupon Police Officers duly attended. After being given an account by the said enforcement agent and viewing the very minor damage caused to the wheel clamp, the attending Police Officers forcefully entered Mrs E’s home and arrested her on suspicion of criminal damage without informing why her immediate arrest was necessary and despite Mrs E trying to explain what had happened and the said enforcement agent confirming to the said attending Police Officers that he did not want to press charges against Mrs E. Mrs E was then transported to the Police Station and after her detention was authorised, the said enforcement agent duly attended again making it clear that neither he nor his employers would support a prosecution of Mrs E. Mrs E was not interviewed until the following day following which she was charged and released before her prosecution was subsequently withdrawn.
Representation
After this, Mrs E approached specialist Actions Against the Police Solicitors, Irvings Law, for assistance. Mr McConville immediately acknowledged that what happened was completely wrong and without hesitation, offered to act for Mrs E by way of “no win, no fee” presenting a claim to Cleveland Police on the basis of trespass to property, false imprisonment, assault/battery and malicious prosecution.
Resolution
After initially robustly denying Mrs E’s claim and just prior to Mr McConville issuing Court proceedings, Cleveland Police entered into settlement negotiations that resulted in Mrs E settling her claim on a full and final basis in the sum of £12,500.00 plus the payment of her legal costs.
