By Catherine Mackinlay via SWNS
An animal rescuer has been awarded £10,000 ($12,969) from the police after he was wrongfully arrested – for stealing a chicken.
Edward White, of Walney-based Cumbria Animal and Hen Rescue, was arrested in June 2021 after taking in the bird that a member of the public had found wandering down the road nearby.
The 51-year-old has run the sanctuary, which takes in a variety of animals, for ten years, alongside his wife Ann-Marie.
The Light Sussex hen was handed into the rescue in 2021, with White posting on its social media page that they currently had a lost hen in their care.
The person whose chicken it was realized it was theirs and subsequently contacted Cumbria Police.
White says officers detained for almost three hours after his arrest, after which he was released under investigation without bail or charge.
At this time, police contacted the member of the public that found the wandering chicken who then confirmed they had handed the animal to the rescue.
Around a month after the arrest on July 18, White was told there would be no further action taken due to there being insufficient evidence to proceed to any prosecution.
White wished for an apology from Cumbria Police, for which he and his solicitor Matthew McConville of Irvings Law requested several meetings with the force.
A settlement was offered instead which White felt he had to accept to avoid any financial consequences at a trial.
“I would like to say this was not down to choice”, White said. “I took the constabulary to court for my wrongful arrest and asked for an apology, which they refused, along with any meeting with me and my solicitor.
“I was wrongfully accused of theft and I feel Cumbria Constabulary have dropped the ball with this case – having declined multiple meetings which has resulted in spending tax payers’ money in this way.
“The money isn’t something I care about and I am still publicly asking for an apology and for a meeting with both the Chief of Police and the Crime Commissioner.
“This case has affected my health, my family and friends.
“I would like to thank my friends for standing by me when I was labelled a thief and also thank Matthew from Irvings Law for the support and guidance he has given me.”
Matthew McConville, the head of Irvings Law’s specialist Actions Against the Police Department, said: “It goes without saying that our clients, and the public, have the right to expect integrity in the police service and should have confidence in police officers to act in a professional manner.
“Unfortunately, there has been a definite shortfall in the service that White has received in this incident and there are grave concerns over how Cumbria Constabulary has dealt with it as a whole too.
“Although this should never have occurred in the first place, and despite the avoidable escalation of legal costs to the detriment of the taxpayer, we welcome the force’s decision to eventually settle White’s claim for compensation before trial.
“We, at Irvings Law, will always continue to represent those across the country whom have been failed by the Police for the recourse that they are entitled and so deserve.
“As such, if you have been affected by any police misconduct, please contact us via our website and we may be able to help you too’.”
Cumbria Police declined to comment.
