Practice Summary
Adam has a busy and specialist practice in private law actions against the police and public authorities where he claims and defends. He has expertise in claims for unlawful arrest and false imprisonment, assault, battery, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office. Adam has a particular interest in cases that involve breaches of the Human Rights Act and European Convention on Human Rights and is instructed in a number of cases concerning violations of Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention.
Adam has a developing practice in professional discipline and regularly presents for Appropriate Authorities.
Adam is regularly instructed in civil applications on complaint in the Magistrates’ Court and has dealt with applications relating to domestic violence (DVPOs), sexual behaviour, including applications for SHPOs and SROs, stalking and harassment (stalking protection orders), gang violence (applications for gang injunctions), dangerous dogs (proceedings under Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and Dogs Act 1871), football hooliganism (FBOs), firearms, and civil forfeiture of cash and listed assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Adam also has experience of dealing with High Court applications for notification orders under the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008. Furthermore, Adam is frequently instructed as independent counsel to review and advise upon material potentially subject to legal professional privilege.
Recent Cases
PC G [2023] – misuse of information.
PC W [2023] – use of force.
BE v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2023]. For the successful Claimant. Adam appeared for the successful Claimant who alleged negligence against the Commissioner whose officer’s forced entry into the Claimant’s property, purportedly whilst pursuing a suspect, causing the Claimant injury as they did so. Damages and costs awarded.
KM v West Yorkshire Police [2023]. For the successful Chief Constable. Adam appeared for the Chief Constable in a 2-day trial at Leeds County Court before Recorder Mulholland. The Claimant was part of a large online paedophile hunter group and had alleged she was unlawfully arrested, falsely imprisoned and assaulted by officers when she was arrested for falsely imprisoning suspected offenders. The Court roundly rejected the Claimant’s case and found her arrest was necessary and lawful. The Chief Constable recovered his costs of defending the claim.
West Yorkshire Police v K et al [2023]. Adam appeared for the Chief Constable in a cash forfeiture application under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The cash was seized as part of an investigation by Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit Cyber Crime Team, with support from the NCA and DWP, into offences being committed by a hacker group called “AnonGhost”. The application was wholly successful and a forfeiture order was made in the sum of £83,015.00 plus the Chief Constable’s costs.
CC and DC v Cleveland Police [2022]. Adam is being led by Ian Mullarkey in a high-profile case involving the alleged unlawful arrest of the claimants on suspicion of the murder of their son who disappeared in 1992.
AK v Greater Manchester Police [2022]. For the successful claimant in a jury trial before HHJ Sephton KC at Manchester County Court. The claimant alleged unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and trespass to his person in respect of his arrest for a purported breach of the peace. Damages and costs awarded.
SO v Thames Valley Police [2022]. For the successful claimant in a trial before HHJ Clarke sitting at Oxford County Court. The claimant alleged unlawful arrest, false imprisonment and trespass to her person in relation to her arrest arising out of an alleged assault. Damages and costs awarded.
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