POLICE
We regularly advise on legal challenges against the police on issues relating to free speech, overreach and impartiality. This work has developed out of the landmark case brought by Paul Conrathe, one of our partners, Miller v Humberside Police and The College of Policing [2021] EWCA Civ 1926, which challenged the unlawful recording of
non-crime hate incidents.
R (Smith) v Chief Constable of Northumbria Police [2025] EWHC 1805 (Admin)
Judicial review of the Chief Constable of Northumbria Police force for encouraging officers to march in uniform alongside Pride supporters. The judgment found that the Chief Inspector acted irrationally in allowing this, that Northern Pride was a political organisation, and that officers had been in breach of their duty of impartiality by marching. This case has had a significant effect on the conduct of police forces across Britain. CONCLUDED
Miller v The Independent Office for Police Conduct
Judicial review challenge by Harry Miller, co-founder of Faircop, of the IOPC's support of Pride events and in particular, participating in Pride 2025. This follows on from the Northumbria case above, where Northern Pride was found to be political in its aims. Mr Miller wants to ensure that the IOPC is following its duty of impartiality. ONGOING
Phillimore v Wiltshire police
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Our claimant, Sarah Phillimore, co-founder of Faircop, is bringing a judicial review challenge of Wiltshire police force’s participation in Pride marches, following on from the Northumbria case above. She alleges that as a gender critical person, she and the many others who share her beliefs cannot be confident of fair treatment by the Wiltshire police. ONGOING
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Miller v Lincolnshire Police
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Lincolnshire Police recorded a hate crime against Harry Miller without his knowledge, absent due process and after an interview in which he believed he had cogently argued why his social media comments did not break the law. The complaint was brought by someone who had been stalking Mr Miller for a protracted period and who had been dismissed from their post as a police officer in the Leicestershire Police Force The matter was left and he mistakenly assumed it was resolved. Mr Miller is bringing a judicial review claim against the Chief Constable and against the Home Secretary to expunge the hate crime from the record and to challenge the regulations permitting a hate crime to be recorded purely on the basis of the victim’s perception, without the alleged perpetrator having the opportunity to defend himself/herself. ONGOING