Cancer sufferer 'kicked in the head' by police seeks compensation
04 Mar 2010
A disabled man who claims that he was the victim of violence and
wrongful arrest by the police is seeking compensation.
Albert Wallace, 53, has tumours in his liver and spine and also has
nerve palsy which limits the movement in his hands, the London
Evening Standard reports.
He was at the Wood Green shopping centre in London in July 2007 and
was carrying a toy helicopter when he claims the ordeal
began.
A member of the public alerted the police after mistaking the model
for a gun and they surrounded Mr Wallace.
When they shouted for him to put his hands up, he says he explained
that he was disabled and could not do so, but the officers - who
were allegedly armed with machine guns - did not listen.
"They kicked me in the head and stomped on me. I thought I was
going to pass out because of the pain," he commented.
Mr Wallace says he was then arrested and taken to a police cell
where he was detained for three hours.
Following his ordeal, Mr Wallace said he intends to sue the
Metropolitan Police for GBP 270,000 for wrongful arrest, assault,
false imprisonment and loss of liberty.
A spokesperson for the police said it is aware of the legal action
and is looking into the matter.
According to FreedomToProtest.org, police must be able to justify
any arrest or detention. Anyone who feels that police have acted
outside their powers should seek legal advice as they may be able
to make a claim for false imprisonment.
Anna Thwaites, a solicitor at Hodge Jones & Allen LLP, who
specialises in police misconduct claims, comments:
“It is important that the actions of the police are proportionate
to the perceived threat. If they are not, it is only right and
proper that an individual should be compensated. Hodge Jones &
Allen has helped a number of people over many years, to bring a
claim against the police for misconduct and wrongful arrest.”
