The firm’s Public Law and Civil Liberties Department, which is headed by Simon Purchas deals mainly with claims for compensation and for judicial review involving local authorities, police forces and central government departments.
The department deals with cases before Coroners, County and High Courts, the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights, covering a wide range of issues including the rights of children, women, protestors, refugees, prisoners, the exercise of police powers and deaths in custody.
Simon Purchas is the partner who heads up the department.
We specialise in:
- Actions against the police
- Action against other arms of the state
- Action against corporate bodies
We take action through:
- Judicial Review
- Claims for Compensation
- Defending those subject to protest injunction proceedings
Some of our recent cases include ;
- Grant v the United Kingdom (08/01/09) European Court of Human Rights
Deportation of foreign national prisoners and family rights under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
- Iqbal v Prison Officers' Association [2009] EWCA Civ 1310
Initially successful false imprisonment claim by a prisoner against the Prison Officers Association. Overturned on appeal.
- RG v West Yorkshire Police and DPP [2008] EWCA Civ 28
- S v DPP [2008] EWHC 438 (Admin)
- Leeds City Council v RG [2007] EWHC 1612 (Admin)
- Leeds City Council and Others v Channel 4 Television Corporation [2007]
Illegality of detention in a police station pending charging decision by CPS. As a result of this success we were able to pursue a large number of claims for damages against the police for those unlawfully detained.
Public order offence by defendant animal rights activist posting photograph on the internet.
Magistrates power to vary an anti social behaviour order by extending its duration.
1FLR 678 - filming of children in schools surreptitiously – rights to privacy and free speech, duty of confidentiality.
The department works closely with other departments in the firm particularly the criminal , prison law, immigration and clinical negligence teams.
Call or e-mail a member of the Public Law team for your free advice.