We represented our client following a serious incident involving an unmarked police vehicle and his subsequent arrest while commuting to work.
The initial incident
On 19 February 2022, our client was travelling to his workplace. He was using an e-scooter for his commute. Shortly after turning left onto a junction leading onto a road, our client was overtaken by an unmarked police vehicle that abruptly stopped in the middle of the road. Believing the vehicle was an uber driver simply performing an emergency stop, our attempted to pass around it to continue his journey. As he did so, the unmarked police vehicle moved across his path and forcibly knocked him from his e-scooter. He landed on his face, injuring his eye and causing bleeding from his mouth and nose.
Detention and arrest
Three plain clothed officers ran towards him. One officer immediately detained him and forcefully applied handcuffs on our client. Our client was arrested for obstructing a police officer, handcuffed to the rear, and pushed face-down onto the ground. While restrained, he struggled to breathe and experienced significant pain due to the tight handcuffs. During this process, he asked why he had been stopped and was told the officers were acting due to local robberies despite no lawful basis being established for this specific stop.
Hospitalisation, detention and prosecution
Following the arrest, he was transported to hospital, where he remained for several hours before being moved to a police station. He was detained for several hours and interviewed under caution, where he provided a full account of the incident. More than a year later, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed it would offer no evidence to support the charge of assaulting an emergency worker. At a hearing on 23 May 2023, the CPS formally discontinued the case on public interest grounds.
Civil claim
Our client was of good character and had never been in trouble with the police beforehand. Our client approached the firm on 21 June 2023 requesting assistance for pursuing a civil claim. In 2025, the client’s claim settled for £15,000 plus his reasonable legal costs.
Our client was represented by Solicitor Natalie Acheampong-Sarpong and Paralegal Felix Parsons of GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates, with Sarah Hemingway from Garden Court Chambers instructed as counsel.
False imprisonment occurs when an individual is detained without lawful justification or without the legal authority to restrict their freedom of movement. This applies even when the detention is brief or carried out by law enforcement.
If an arresting officer uses excessive force or acts without lawful authority, the injured party may be entitled to claim compensation for assault, personal injury, and associated losses.
Litigation length varies depending on complexity, evidence, and whether the case settles early. More complex cases can take several years.
