News

Duncan Lewis Solicitors has successfully secured £70,000 in damages for a client who brought a false imprisonment claim against the Home Office. The detention was unlawful as removal was not possible within a reasonable timeframe.

During the client's detention, despite being granted bail by the First Tier Tribunal, the Home Office consistently delayed in sourcing suitable accommodation for the client. Additionally, the client suffered from various physical health issues and was classified as an adult at risk level 2 under the Home Office’s Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention policy at all times during his detention.

The client was ultimately released only after judicial review proceedings were initiated seeking interim relief. Given that at no stage was removal reasonably imminent, the Home Office’s detention of our client throughout was unlawful.

In an unexpected move, the Home Office contested the claim right up until just days before the start of the trial at the County Court.

The client was represented by Director Pardeep Somel, instructing Alison Harvey of 1 Pump Court Chambers as counsel. Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in achieving this successful outcome.

Pardeep Somel is Director in the Immigration department with over 15 years of expertise in asylum and immigration law. She leads a team specialising in cases involving torture, human trafficking, and gender-based persecution. Her extensive litigation experience covers all court levels from the First-tier Tribunal to the Court of Appeal, with a focus on vulnerable clients, including minors and victims of violence and trafficking. She has a successful track record in challenging detention and removal decisions, and her work encompasses a broad range of immigration matters, including settlement and entry clearance applications.

Duncan Lewis’ Immigration team is at the forefront in the battle against unlawful detention for those held under immigration powers and Home Office practices and policies. The team has a broad practice representing clients in matters involving immigration; asylum and human rights and deportation matters, with a niche practice in immigration and civil liberties claimant Judicial Review matters. They have significant practice in challenging delays in Home Office decisions and unlawful immigration detention cases with high net claims for damages and challenging immigration removal cases.