Land of the free · Limitation Act 1980
Sue the police
Four steps. England and Wales. Official record only. Not a solicitor. Not legal advice. Not a guarantee.
01 · Evidence first
Hold the record
Write the date, the force, the officers if named, the injury, the place. Keep photos, video, medical notes, the complaint number. Ask for the official file under data protection. Use FOI only for what is already public. You cannot sue the police from a rumour. Cite the page.
02 · Police Reform Act 2002
Complaint and independent look
Send the complaint to the force professional standards department. Death, serious injury, or a specified matter can go to the IOPC. A misconduct finding is not a conviction. It is a record. Keep the outcome letter. It can sit in a civil claim. It is not the claim.
03 · Limitation Act 1980
Watch the clock
Personal injury is generally three years, Limitation Act 1980 s.11. Other torts are often six years, s.2. Human Rights Act 1998 s.7 is generally one year. Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 s.127 is the criminal clock. That is the other door. Miss the civil clock and the court can shut the claim. Not a solicitor. Not a guarantee.
04 · Civil procedure
Issue the claim
Pre-action protocol. Letter of claim. Form N1. County Court or High Court. Causes can include assault, battery, false imprisonment, negligence, misfeasance in public office, Human Rights Act. The CPS does not run this. A misconduct hearing is not a trial of your claim. Pay the fee. Serve the papers. Not legal advice.
Criminal clock is MCA 1980 s.127. That is the other door.