Background

Mr Matthew McConville, Head of Irvings Law’s specialist Actions Against the Police and Data Breach Department, has successfully represented Mr Dale Collyer in a claim for compensation against West Midlands Police.

West Midlands Police received an assault report where Mr Collyer was named as a suspect. As part of such an investigation, Mr Collyer was placed on the PNC as ‘Wanted’ although such investigation failed to progress due to the person making such an allegation did not wish to make a formal complaint. As such, the said assault report was filed away by West Midlands Police but unfortunately, Mr Collyer’s PNC remained stated that he was ‘Wanted’. Then, when attending the gate for a flight for his 30th Birthday, Mr Collyer was arrested by Police Officers from Greater Manchester Police due to the PNC entry that West Midlands Police failed to remove. Whilst in the view of the watching public and in complete shock, Mr Collyer was handcuffed and then escorted through the airport terminal before being taken to the Police Station. After being booked in, Mr Collyer was placed into a cell where he remained for a couple of hours and without any interview, he was informed by Custody Staff that there had been the above-mentioned mistake made by West Midlands Police. As such, Mr Collyer was immediately released whereupon he then had to pay for a taxi back to the airport and pay for another flight to meet his friends who had already made their way to where they were all intending to go to earlier in the day. Following this incident, Mr Collyer complained to West Midlands Police who confirmed the above facts and apologised ‘for [their] mistake that led to this’ and the ‘inconvenience and distress caused’ was ‘appreciated’; it was also confirmed that ‘action will be taken to address [their] Officer’s actions’ too.

Representation

After this, Mr Collyer approached specialist Actions Against the Police & Data Breach Solicitors, Irvings Law, for assistance. Mr McConville immediately acknowledged that what happened was completely wrong and without hesitation, offered to act for Mr Collyer by way of “no win, no fee” presenting a claim to West Midlands Police on the basis that Mr Collyer’s human rights to privacy were breached as well as GDPR and his confidence following this misuse of private information.

Resolution

After presenting the claim, West Midlands Police wished to settle Mr Collyer’s claim and an agreement was reached without the need for Court proceedings to be commenced in a sum just shy of £10,000.00 including the payment of his legal costs.