Police Law Blog European Decisions Statutory Materials

Vicarious Liability and Misfeasance in Public Office: “a frolic of his own”

The County Court has dismissed a claim for misfeasance in public office and vicarious liability brought against the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police, arising from the actions of a former police constable, Craig Stant. The Claimant, Ms A, alleged that while off duty the officer had pursued an inappropriate and coercive relationship with her after stopping her car and identifying […]

Low means low: the arguability threshold for the Article 2 procedural duty

R (Ferguson) v  HM Assistant Coroner for Sefton, Knowsley & St Helens and the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police [2025] EWHC 1901 (Admin) 23 July 2025 –  judgment here Q1: What strength of evidence will make it arguable that an article 2 duty has arisen and/or make it arguable that a duty has been breached, […]

Sharing skeleton arguments and written submissions at inquests

R (Metropolitan Police Commissioner) v Police Conduct Panel [2025] EWHC 1462 (Admin)  17 June 2025,  judgment here Skeleton arguments and written submissions are often emailed to coroners in advance of an inquest or PIRH.  The document is rarely read out in court in full, and so any press or public sitting in court may find […]

Making matters worse: the scope of police responsibility for a death

Tindall and another v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2024] UKSC 33, (judgment here) It is not coronial law under the microscope here, but rather a decision from the Supreme Court at the end of last year in a police civil action.  Nevertheless it provides helpful insight into the potential responsibility of police forces […]

Barnes v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2023] EWHC 2737 (Admin)

Barnes v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, is an important professional discipline case considering the power of the Chief Constable to discharge a probationary officer, notwithstanding misconduct proceedings relating to the same officer and the same concerns did not result in dismissal. Facts The claimant had told a racist joke to colleagues, which he knew […]