Skip to content 
Police Negligence Compensation Claims Experts
If you have suffered harm due to police misconduct, JF Law could help you claim police negligence compensation.
£85 million in compensation
Police Negligence Compensation Claims Experts
If you have suffered harm due to police misconduct, JF Law could help you claim police negligence compensation.
How To Claim Police Negligence Compensation
You could claim anything between a few thousand and potentially hundreds of thousands in police negligence compensation, depending on the nature of your injuries. While the police are subject to strict codes of conduct and regulations when conducting their operations, failures to uphold these standards or outright abuses of authority do occur. If such action causes you to experience harm, then you could be entitled to compensation.
At JF Law, our passion for justice goes beyond simply seeking compensation for wrongdoing. The public’s trust in the police is a cornerstone of keeping society safe, and if that trust is breached, then recovering it can be challenging. So, remedies including public apologies, the destruction of records and implementing preventative measures can all form part of the resolution to a police injury claim.
Key Takeaways
- Police officers must uphold the law when carrying out their duties, for example, when conducting searches, arrests, and holding persons in custody.
- However, there can be situations in which officers neglect their obligations or abuse their powers, resulting in a wrongful arrest or excessive force being used.
- Remedial actions, including an apology, removing your information from police databases and declarations of responsibility, could be issued in addition to compensation.
- JF Law could help you to make a compensation claim against the police by providing a tailored service built around your needs.
- We also maintain a permanent advice team, so whenever it’s convenient for you, you can reach us.
Get in touch today using the details below to discuss your potential personal injury claim:
- Call us on 0151 375 9916.
- You may also contact us online by completing a callback form.
Can I Make A Claim For Police Negligence?
Yes, you could make a claim for police negligence compensation if you can show that during your interaction with officers, there was some form of misconduct that caused you harm. When exercising their authority, such as during an arrest or while a suspect is remanded in police custody, the police must uphold certain standards. This includes the Bail Act of 1976 and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) codes of practice.
If these standards are not upheld and you are harmed during interactions with the police, you may be able to seek compensation. We have summarised the eligibility criteria for you here:
- You were arrested, had your vehicle or person searched, or otherwise interacted with a police officer or officers.
- The police officer’s conduct was in breach of PACE or the Bail Act 1976.
- As a result of this misconduct, you were harmed in some way.
You can get free advice and check whether you could make a claim by calling JF Law today.
What Are Some Examples Of Negligence Within The Police?
Some examples of negligence within policing can include excessive force, negligent discharge of firearms or tasers, and not considering public safety while pursuing suspects. A few more detailed scenarios have been provided here:
- A police officer discharged their taser despite you co-operating with them and their instructions. The shock caused you to fall and hit your head, as well as cause complications with your heart.
- Excessive force during your arrest broke 2 of your ribs, causing significant bruising to your torso. The experience was deeply traumatising and resulted in you developing PTSD.
- While pursuing a suspect in a vehicle at speed, the police officer failed to exercise due care and attention while navigating traffic. Despite your moving to the side of the road, the police car crashed into your rear. You suffered a major injury to your neck in the collision.
Remember, these scenarios are intended to act as guidance, not provide an exhaustive list. You can find out more about claiming in your particular circumstances by talking to our team today.
Established, Experienced, Dependable, Responsive and Committed
We strive to provide the highest level of service possible. Our sole aim is to get you the best result we can and one you’re satisfied with. Get in touch today to find out how we can help you.
How Much Police Negligence Compensation Can I Claim?
How much police negligence compensation you could claim will depend on the nature of the injuries sustained, any psychological impacts and what financial losses were suffered, if any. This compensation can be paid out under two different heads of claim:
- General damages: compensation for physical and psychological injury.
- Special damages: compensation for the monetary harm you experienced. We’ll explore claiming for these losses in the next section.
In order to determine a potential compensation amount for general damages, solicitors can use any relevant medical evidence in conjunction with guidelines from the Judicial College. Referred to as the JCG, this publication sets out regularly updated compensation guidelines for a range of injuries. We’ve used a selection of these figures to create this table.
Compensation Table
Please note that this table is intended to serve as guidance only. The top figure was not taken from the JCG.
| Type of Injury | Guideline Payout Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Severe Injuries with Special Damages | Up to £500,000 + | Cases where multiple very serious injuries in addition to significant financial losses such as a loss of income, medical and care bills have been sustained. |
| Brain Damage – Moderate (c)(ii) | £110,720 to £183,190 | Moderate to modest deficit in intellect with a greatly reduced ability to work. |
| Brain Damage – Moderate (c)(iii) | £52,550 to £110,720 | Impacts on memory and concentration affecting ability to undertake work. |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Severe (a) | £73,050 to £122,850 | Permanent very bad effects across all aspects of life that prevent anything resembling pre-trauma function. |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Moderately Severe (b) | £28,250 to £73,050 | Some recovery with professional help but significant disability for the foreseeable future. |
| Arm Injuries – Injuries Resulting in Permanent and Substantial Disablement (b) | £47,810 to £73,050 | Both or one forearm suffers serious fractures. |
| Wrist Injuries – Permanent Disability (b) | £29,900 to £47,810 | Some useful movement will remain despite permanent disability |
| Wrist Injuries – Less Severe (c) | £15,370 to £29,900 | A degree of persisting pain in stiffness will be present. |
| Injuries to the Elbow – Less Severe (b) | £19,100 to £39,070 | Where there is functional impairment but not significant disability or need for major surgery. |
| Chest Injuries – Relatively Simple Injuries (d) | £15,370 to £21,920 | Relatively simple injuries with permanent damage to tissues but no significant long term effects on lung function. |
While we hope you find these guideline figures useful, for a more detailed idea of what your potential claim could be worth, talk to our advisors today.
Can I Claim For Other Losses Resulting From Police Negligence?
You can claim compensation for other losses resulting from police negligence under special damages. This head of claim is concerned with financial losses, and we’ve provided some examples of such costs below:
- Loss of earnings if you are off work because of your injuries.
- A loss of future earnings could also be claimed if you continue to be unable to work or have to return in a reduced capacity.
- Medical expenses, prescriptions and the cost of counselling.
- Any home accessibility modifications, like ramps or a stairlift.
- Domestic care and support.
- Travel costs.
Make sure you have proof of these losses, such as your payslips, care bills, purchase receipts and medical documents.
Other incurred costs may be recoverable as part of your compensation, in addition to the examples given here. Speak to one of our advisors today to learn more about making a claim for police negligence, and to get a more personalised idea of what your potential claim could be worth.
We pride ourselves
on providing the best service
possible for our clients.
We pride ourselves on providing the best service possible for our clients.
Who Are The Independent Office For Police Conduct (IOPC)
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is the independent watchdog for policing in England and Wales. They oversee complaint actions against the police for the most serious matters, including deaths and serious injury.
Any complaints against police officer conduct must first be made to the relevant police force. You can, however, submit your complaint on the IOPC website, which will then pass it on. If you are unhappy with the outcome of your complaint against the police service, then you can potentially escalate the matter to the IOPC, the relevant Police and Crime Commissioner or the police service itself.
It is important to note that the IOPC cannot exercise control over police handling of a criminal investigation. They can, however, look into serious allegations of officer misconduct during that investigation. We should also point out that it is not necessary to have first made a complaint in order to claim compensation, although going through the complaints process may be beneficial in terms of generating evidence and demonstrating that you attempted to resolve the matter before taking legal action.
You can seek free advice before making your complaint by contacting JF Law today. Our help desk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so whenever you need additional guidance, we’ll have someone on hand.
How Can I Prove Police Negligence Occurred?
You can prove that police negligence occurred by gathering a strong body of evidence and making a formal complaint about the incident. In the sections below, we’ve set out not only how you can go about this, but also how our solicitors can support you.
Get Medical Treatment
Getting the right medical care is important not only to safeguard your health but also to generate formal records of your injuries. Scans, blood test results, and notes from physical examinations can all be used to show which injuries were sustained and how serious they were.
Collect Any Evidence You Can
Proof of the injuries sustained, as well as the police misconduct, should be gathered as soon as you are able. Gathering evidence is something a solicitor could help you with, and we’ve provided a few possible examples here:
- Medical evidence of any injury you have sustained.
- CCTV or dashcam footage of the arrest, interaction, or road traffic collision with the police.
- Proof of your financial losses.
- Members of the public who saw your interaction with the police could provide a witness statement. A solicitor could help you locate the relevant persons to obtain their contact information, so a statement can be taken during the claims process.
Report The Incident
A formal police complaint regarding the misconduct should be made directly to the relevant police service. This can be done online or directly at a police station. Whichever method you use, creating a formal record of the incident is an important step for seeking compensation.
Keep Track Of Your Symptoms
Maintaining a diary during your medical treatment is a useful way of recording your mental state, symptoms and the impacts both the police misconduct and your medical treatment have had on you.
Seek Legal Advice
Seeking professional legal advice is not only important, but it’s also your right to have a solicitor present for any questioning at a police station. If you experience police negligence during the arrest or while in custody, it’s important to tell the solicitor what happened.
Legal advice can also be sought following a stop and search or if you are released from custody without being questioned, but still experienced some harm.
Pay Attention To The Time Limit
For a personal injury claim against the police, the time limit is typically 3 years from the date of the incident. As we will examine in the next section, certain exceptions may apply, so it’s important to pay close attention to which time limit applies in your particular circumstances.
We hope this section has been informative, although we appreciate that there’s a lot of information here. To ask any questions, learn more about how to make a claim against the police or to check your eligibility, speak to our advisors today.
Is There A Police Negligence Claim Time Limit?
Yes, there is usually a 3-year time limit applied to police negligence compensation claims for personal injury matters. This standard time limit was established by the Limitation Act 1980, although exceptions may apply in some circumstances. So:
- Persons under 18 cannot make a claim on their own behalf, so any children who experience police negligence will have the 3 years paused until their 18th birthday.
- In cases of persons who do not have sufficient mental capacity, the time limit is halted indefinitely, unless they regain this capacity. In which case, the 3-year time limit would run from this recovery date.
In order to get claims in these situations started as soon as possible, a litigation friend may be appointed. A suitable adult can apply to act on behalf of someone who cannot claim for themselves, and be granted decision-making powers over the legal action. To learn more about the limitation period in personal injury cases, speak to one of our advisors today.
How JF Law Can Help With Claims Against The Police
JF Law can help with claims against the police by providing the very highest standards of professionalism, discretion and dedication. Our solicitors have years of experience, with the careers of some individuals spanning over decades. Those years represent multiple hard-won and successful cases, winning clients the compensation they deserve.
Here are just some of the ways our solicitors can help you:
- Helping you gather the right supporting evidence for the claim.
- Ensuring you receive the necessary medical care.
- Keeping you informed of how the claim is progressing and explaining all the tricky legal language.
- Negotiating a settlement on your behalf.
Our solicitors can offer eligible claimants their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This No Win No Fee contract will protect you from having to pay any solicitor service fees at the start of, or during the claims process. You will also not be liable for any service fees if the claim is lost.
A success fee will be charged if the claim is won. A maximum of 25% will be taken from your compensation by the solicitor, before the rest is transferred to you. Because The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 caps this percentage, and considering success fees are agreed at the start of the claim, you know from the outset that most of the compensation will be yours to keep.
Get In Touch With Our No Win No Fee Solicitors
You can reach our No Win No Fee solicitors at a time that suits you by contacting our advisory team. We maintain a 24/7 help desk so there’s always someone on hand to take your call. If our advisors assess your potential claim as valid, you’ll be connected with one of our expert solicitors.
Get in touch today using the details below:
- Call us on 0151 375 9916.
- You may also contact us online by completing a callback form.
Learn More
Read more of our personal injury claims guides on our website:
Read our guide to making a burn injury claim here.
Find out if you could claim for a back injury with this guidance.
Learn more about making an ankle injury claim with JF Law today.
We’ve included some external resources to provide additional information:
Read the government guidance on requesting CCTV footage of yourself.
The IOPC discuss their key areas of work in more detail here.
Find out how to access mental health services from the NHS.
Thank you for taking the time to read our guide to police negligence compensation.
Our Latest Customer Reviews
AS SEEN ON
Contact Us
Our helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
All calls are free and there’s no pressure whatsoever to proceed with a compensation claim.
If you write to us, we aim to respond within an hour or two, and no more than a few hours.
Request a Callback
