UK MPs challenge ruling granting police immunity from civil lawsuits

Backbench MPs Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) and Jess Phillips (Labour) are seeking to overturn a 2025 Court of Appeal ruling that grants police officers broad immunity from civil litigation in England and Wales. The MPs have submitted an amendment to a parliamentary bill to counteract the decision, which they argue creates an accountability gap for victims of crime.

The ruling protects officers from being sued for conduct or statements made during criminal investigations, including instances of negligence, dishonesty, or the fabrication of evidence. The legal challenge was prompted by a case involving a domestic violence victim whose confidential refuge address was disclosed by Sussex Police to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) without proper safeguards. The subsequent disclosure of her location in court by a CPS lawyer forced her to flee her safe location again.

Critics argue the decision expands ‘core immunity’—traditionally applied to witnesses and lawyers—to a wide range of police investigative activities. This could prevent victims from seeking redress for serious misconduct, such as the reckless disclosure of confidential information or the omission of key evidence that leads to wrongful convictions.