STOP Sussex Police abusing power and acting illegally
STOP Sussex Police abusing power and acting illegally
This case is raising funds for its stretch target. Your pledge will be collected within the next 24-48 hours (and it only takes two minutes to pledge!)
Latest: Sept. 14, 2023
Not going to let this drop - Issued proceedings and acknowledgement received
Been a while since I last updated, apologies. It's proving to be a slow process, but the case is still going ahead including letters going back and forth.
Legal action against the Chief Constable of Sussex Police for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, assault and disability discrimination.
I was arrested in Waitrose supermarket whilst quietly and peacefully pushing a trolley and selecting items to purchase after Waitrose called the police following a discussion about not wearing a mask, even after having previously proved my exemption. I, like many others, suffer from a chronic health condition, invisible on the outside, but at times debilitating. I choose to use the exemption in law I have to shop without wearing a mask. I believe that mandating wearing of masks is against our human rights. The UK Government has acted against our fundamental human rights and health in mandating wearing of masks which prevent breathing in of oxygen necessary for human life.
The police arrested and handcuffed me behind my back and I was made to sit in the sloping back seat of a police car with painful pressure on my cuffed hands and wrists from the weight of my back. All my possessions were taken on arrest. I was questioned in police custody including about my mental health. I was asked to read a computer screen at a distance to verify the possessions the police had taken but the police sergeant refused to give my glasses back to do so. I was incarcerated in a cell. I was forced to strip naked and told if I didn't strip myself, the female officers would do it. The sergeant's risk assessment that I needed to be put in safety anti-rip police issue shirt and shorts had me worried she was going to have me sectioned as she had questioned my mental health. I told the police my own risk assessment of myself was that I was not a risk to myself or anyone else. One member of the police team in the cell agreed with me that getting me to strip naked and then put on protective clothing was too much, risking losing her job in the process. I was imprisoned for some time, then released without any charge.
During the entire episode, both with Waitrose and Sussex Police, I was not abusive, or even rude, to anyone, and to the contrary, when given the opportunity, I was chatty with the officers. However I did point out and challenge anything I believed to be incorrect in my treatment and made clear my views on human rights. The police said that Waitrose had called them because I was being abusive, this is simply not true.
We are raising funds to take legal action against Sussex Police to halt its abuse of its own powers. Sussex Police need to be stopped from carrying on its illegal and abusive practices.
Bad practices in the police must be addressed and rooted out. We need to see this end now. We need your support to see that justice is done, please contribute and share this page.
Don't let the police get away with human rights abuse and illegal practices. It is time for action.
Robin Tilbrook has taken this case and has already issued 'protocol letter before action' letters to Sussex Police and Waitrose. Only Sussex Police has responded within the 21 days of receipt requested, to say that they need more time. We will keep you updated as the legal challenge progresses.
Thank you for your contribution and sharing.
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Juliet Johnson
Sept. 14, 2023
Not going to let this drop - Issued proceedings and acknowledgement received
Been a while since I last updated, apologies. It's proving to be a slow process, but the case is still going ahead including letters going back and forth.
[email protected]
Juliet Johnson
Feb. 1, 2022
75% chance of SUCCESS & strong representation in Sussex Police STRIP SEARCH Case
Wow, this case has a fantastic chance of success - given a 75% chance of success in legal opinion and a great legal team.
Strong representation on Sussex Police case with Francis Hoar and Robin Tilbrook involved.
Francis Hoar is a leading barrister, specialist in election/public, commercial and employment law. Plus Francis Hoar is a legal commentator.
Robin Tilbrook is a first class solicitor with much experience with High Court and County Court work, who runs his own law firm. Robin Tilbrook is Chairman of the English Democrats Party.
Both lawyers have been involved in Covid restriction cases with success. Francis Hoar acted on behalf of GP Dr Samuel White in the High Court. Dr White was appealing an order of the General Medical Council banning him from discussing the Covid-19 pandemic on social media. Dr White's appeal was a success with the judge ruling that the ban was wrong.
In Francis Hoar's opinion the case against Sussex Police for false imprisonment, after unlawful arrest, and the strip search by police offices has a strong prospect of success: 75%. Francis Hoar writes: 'it is my opinion that there is a good to very good prospect (75%) that Miss Johnson was subjected to a disproportionate interference with her Article 8 rights'. Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights covers the right to respect for private life, which encompasses bodily autonomy.
A further pre-action claim letter is being sent to the Chief Constable of Sussex Police to set out our case in detail and on both heads of damage - false imprisonment and the strip search.
Thank you to those who have supported this case and shared this CrowdJustice page, your contribution has been worthwhile.
Please share and donate to this CrowdJustice case, all contributions are very much appreciated. We will ensure that Sussex Police are held accountable for this injustice, plus the many other cases of a similar nature that victims have directly messaged me about.
Juliet Johnson
Feb. 1, 2022
Media coverage on the Sussex Police case for False Imprisonment and Strip Search
I have a few updates on the case against Chief Constable of Sussex Police for false imprisonment, after unlawful arrest, and for forced strip search to share. This first update covers the great coverage the case had in the mainstream media. I have had further requests from media outlets for more on the case. I'll be covering those requests shortly.
Thanks to all of you who supported. We are pursuing this case and holding Sussex Police accountable. More on that in my next update. Please share this CrowdJustice page as widely as possible.
The media coverage so far:
IT consultant, 55, sues police who arrested and 'STRIP-SEARCHED' her when she refused to wear a mask in Waitrose because she was exempt - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9996895/Woman-arrested-Waitrose-not-wearing-face-mask-sues-Sussex-Police-wrongful-arrest.html
Businesswoman detained for two hours for not wearing face mask at Waitrose -https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/09/16/businesswoman-detained-two-hours-not-wearing-face-mask-waitrose/
Woman arrested and strip-searched by police for 'not wearing a mask in Waitrose' - https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/woman-arrested-strip-searched-police-25006116
IT consultant, 55, arrested, ‘strip searched’ and banned from supermarket for not wearing a mask – despite being exempt - https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16155579/exempt-shopper-strip-researched-not-wearing-waitrose/
Chichester woman who shopped without a mask takes legal action over 'wrongful arrest' and 'false imprisonment' - https://www.chichester.co.uk/health/coronavirus/chichester-woman-who-shopped-without-a-mask-takes-legal-action-over-wrongful-arrest-and-false-imprisonment-3382962
Chichester woman who shopped without a mask takes legal action over 'wrongful arrest' and 'false imprisonment' - https://www.bognor.co.uk/health/coronavirus/chichester-woman-who-shopped-without-a-mask-takes-legal-action-over-wrongful-arrest-and-false-imprisonment-3382962
Chichester woman, 55, arrested and strip-searched for 'not wearing mask in Waitrose' - https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/sussex-news/chichester-woman-strip-searched-waitrose-5994820
Woman 'strip searched’ after refusing to wear mask in Chichester Waitrose sues police - https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/19588059.woman-strip-searched-refusing-wear-mask-chichester-waitrose-sues-police/
Woman who refused to wear mask in Waitrose sues police after ‘being strip searched’ - https://metro.co.uk/2021/09/16/woman-who-refused-to-wear-mask-in-waitrose-sues-police-after-being-strip-searched-15269685/
55-year-old exempt shopper arrested and “strip-searched” for not wearing a mask at Waitrose - https://eminetra.co.uk/55-year-old-exempt-shopper-arrested-and-strip-searched-for-not-wearing-a-mask-at-waitrose/703691/
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