ACTIONS AGAINST POLICE

Justice for Allon: Brutal Assault and Wrongful Detention During a Welfare Check

The case of Allon is a shocking example of how police welfare checks can escalate into life-threatening violence when officers treat mental health distress as a criminal offense. Represented by our specialist solicitor Iain Gould, Allon’s four-year battle for justice exposes the extreme accountability gap within the police complaints system.

The Incident: A Welfare Check Turned Violent

In December 2018, Allon, a successful businessman of good character, was experiencing a period of family distress. Out of concern for his safety, his family called Hertfordshire Police and asked them to check on him. Despite being sent to help, the officers’ arrival led to a controversial confrontation.

Officers located Allon at a petrol station shop where he was calmly attempting to buy a sandwich and water. Despite seeing that he was alive, well, and behaving in an unremarkable manner, the encounter turned aggressive within minutes:

  • The Escalation: When Allon politely declined to speak further with officers and attempted to walk back to his car, PC Wild grabbed him from behind
  • The Threats: Shocked, Allon backed away with his hands visible. In response, PC Daly trained his taser gun on Allon, refusing to lower it despite Allon’s pleas.

The Assault: The Full Arsenal of Force

What followed was an unprovoked and savage attack on a man who was the subject of a welfare check. The officers unleashed the full extent of their weaponry:

  1. Taser Discharge: PC Daly fired his Taser at Allon while his back was against a wall. Allon managed to slash the wires to avoid the full shock.
  2. Drive-Stun Taser: PC Daly then discharged the taser in drive-stun mode directly into the side of Allon’s neck
  3. Baton Strikes: PC Wild repeatedly beat Allon’s legs from behind with a baton.
  4. PAVA Spray: While pinned to the ground by the officers’ body weight, Allon was sprayed in the face at close range with PAVA (an incapacitant spray), causing agonising pain.
  5. Coercive Restraint: Allon was handcuffed so tightly that he lost sensation in his thumb.

Wrongful Detention Under Section 136

Allon was detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act. Despite his physical injuries, he was humiliatingly led through a busy A&E department in handcuffs. Once he was finally assessed by a doctor at a psychiatric hospital, the medical report was clear: ‘’No evidence of mental health disorder and no current risk identified’. Allon was immediately discharged after being wrongly held for over 14 hours.

Specialist Insight: Challenging the Cheerleader PSD

Allon’s initial complaint to Hertfordshire Constabulary was completely exonerated by their Professional Standards Department (PSD). The investigator even lectured Allon, suggesting he take responsibility for his actions.

Iain Gould noted the institutional bias in these investigations:

‘’PSD very often come across as nothing more than the cheerleaders of their Force’s frontline Officers. And cheerleaders, of course, support their team whether right or wrong.’’

By bypassing the dysfunctional complaints system and initiating civil court proceedings, Iain Gould was able to challenge the police narrative using CCTV evidence that the police investigation had ignored.

The Outcome: A Landmark £70,000 Settlement

Despite Hertfordshire Constabulary’s strenuous denial of liability for nearly four years, they caved in shortly before the trial was set to begin.

The settlement included:

This significant settlement was a total vindication for Allon, proving that the force used was neither lawful nor proportionate, despite what the internal police investigations had claimed.

Why This Case Matters: When a Call for Help Becomes a Crisis

Allon’s story is a chilling reminder of how police often default to violence when dealing with mental health. It highlights why specialist legal representation is essential: without a civil claim, the police would have successfully blamed the victim for their own brutality.

If you have been subjected to excessive force during a welfare check or mental health intervention, you have the right to challenge the police’s version of events.

Contact Iain Gould’s specialist team at DPP Law today for a free, no-obligation assessment of your case. We are here to help you hold the police accountable and secure the justice you deserve.