£67,500 settlement in claim against Merseyside Police for trespass, assault, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution

Monday 27 April 2015

Mr Egeonu has received £67,500 in settlement arising from claims that in 2011 and 2013, Merseyside officers unlawfully entered his family home, assaulted him in front of his wife and children, racially abused and unlawfully detained him, stripped him while he was in police custody, and maliciously prosecuted him for assaulting two police officers.

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In 2011, Mr Egeonu’s wife made a non-emergency call to report an incident of racial abuse. Mr Egeonu’s wife hung up but officers attended the family home, entered the property and refused to leave. Mr Egeonu was forcibly restrained, held face down on the floor by multiple officers, and alleged that he was subjected to racial abuse. The restraining officers claimed that Mr Egeonu had raised his hands as if he was about to strike his wife. Mr Egeonu was arrested for breach of the peace and detained overnight. All his clothes were forcibly removed despite Mr Egeonu having no history of self-harm or welfare concerns. He was prosecuted for assaulting the two officers who had forcibly restrained him and was convicted in the Magistrates’ Court. Mr Egeonu successfully appealed against his conviction. The IPCC also upheld Mr Egeonu’s complaints that officers had no basis for entering and remaining at his home, that the restraint and detention of Mr Egeonu were unjustified, and that there was no proper reason for removing his clothes in custody. Mr Egeonu was of good character with no previous convictions.

In 2013, officers again attended Mr Egeonu’s family home, this time in response to a call from a member of the public that a baby had been heard crying at the property. Officers forcibly entered and restrained Mr Egeonu facedown on the floor. Mr Egeonu was again arrested for breach of the peace and detained. As a result of this arrest Mr Egeonu’s family were assessed by social services; no welfare issues of any kind were recorded.

Following mediation the Chief Constable has agreed to pay £67,500 in settlement of Mr Egeonu’s claim. No apology has ever been offered to Mr Egeonu.

Jesse Nicholls represented Mr Egeonu, and was instructed by Beverley McBean of Deighton Pierce Glynn.

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