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NLJ this week: Police, contempt and the rule of law

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.
23 January 2026
Issue: 8146 / Categories: Legal News , Rule of law , Public , Contempt , Liability , Tort
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Can a chief constable be held responsible for disobedient officers? Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth, professor of public law at De Montfort University, examines a Court of Appeal ruling that answers firmly: yes

In a case marked by ‘resilience’ and ‘perseverance’, police claims that crucial body-worn footage did not exist were exposed as false.

The court confirmed that chief constables, as ‘corporations sole’, are vicariously liable for contempt where forces flout court orders. This aligns policing accountability with long-standing principles applied to ministers. A £50,000 fine followed.

The judgment underlines that contempt law exists to ‘vindicate the rule of law’, not merely to punish individuals. Transparency, the court stressed, is not optional.

Issue: 8146 / Categories: Legal News , Rule of law , Public , Contempt , Liability , Tort
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