Background
Mr Mathew McConville, Head of Irvings Law’s specialist Actions Against the Police Department, has successfully represented a client in a claim for compensation against Hertfordshire Constabulary but due to confidentiality, the client will be referred to as AB.
AB is a child and Hertfordshire Constabulary received intelligence from Crime Stoppers in regards to safeguarding which was not reviewed and/or acted upon for some time due to “a breakdown in internal processes” during which time AB was sexually assaulted and the perpetrator subsequently being given a lengthy custodial sentence. Hertfordshire Constabulary carried out an internal investigation following their errors where it was found that “the service provided by Police was unacceptable” admitting that “there were organisational failings on the part of the Force with regard to the processing and onward transmission of the Crime Stoppers Intelligence which may have prevented the offences committed [upon AB]”.
Representation
Given the above, AB’s family approached specialist Actions Against the Police Solicitors, Irvings Law, for assistance. Mr McConville immediately acknowledged that what had happened was completely wrong and without hesitation, offered to act for AB by way of “no win, no fee” presenting a claim to Hertfordshire Constabulary for a serious breach of AB’s Article 3 Human Rights.
Resolution
In response to the claim, Hertfordshire Constabulary accepted that although errors were made that they were not serious. Knowing that this Defence to such a claim was weak, Mr McConville advised AB’s family to issue and serve Court proceedings and after this, Hertfordshire decided that they wanted to settle AB’s claim. Following negotiations, AB’s family resolved AB’s said claim in the sum of £13,500.00 plus the payment of her legal costs along with a wholehearted apology too.
