Support for victims of racist violence and harassment
Support for victims of racist violence and harassment
For decades our specialist solicitors have been at the forefront of using the law to secure accountability for victims of racist crimes failed by public authorities. We have acted in seminal cases, including:
- Representing Duwayne Brooks OBE, the friend of the murdered Black teenager Stephen Lawrence. The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry found that police treatment of Mr Brooks was largely as a result of discrimination and racist stereotyping. The Metropolitan Police Service paid Mr Brooks £100,000 in damages.
- Farah v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, which established that police officers can be liable for discrimination under the Race Relations Act 1976.
- Acting for the ‘Kings Cross Three’, victims of a violent racist attack who were themselves charged with assault. The charges were later discontinued.
We work alongside NGOs and advocacy groups to push for systemic change, as well as securing the best possible results for our clients on each individual case.
We understand how failures to prevent, investigate and prosecute racially motivated crimes can hugely aggravate the harm caused by the offences themselves. We deploy the full range of legal remedies to help our clients get the outcomes they want, including:
- Using Victims Right to Review schemes and applications for judicial review to push for investigations to be reopened and charges brought in relation to racially motivated offences.
- Bringing compensation claims against responsible public authorities, including the police and Crown Prosecution Service, for breaches of human rights and equality laws.
- Pursuing police complaints aimed at holding individual officers to account.
Funding your claim
If you are on a low income or receive a means-tested benefit, you may qualify for legal aid to cover the cost of your claim. If not, we may be able to offer a Conditional Fee Agreement (commonly known as a no-win, no-fee arrangement) or other flexible funding options.
Get expert advice
If you believe a public authority has failed to protect you, a loved-one, or someone you’re supporting, from racially motivated crime, or has failed to investigate such offences, we’re here to help. Please complete our new enquiries form, and one of our specialist solicitors will review your case. We aim to respond within two working days.