Woman groomed by predatory police officer
Joanna acts for “Lorraine” (not her real name), a woman who was groomed by a sexually predatory police officer and then repeatedly failed by the Met Police Directorate of Professional Standards when she tried to report him.
See press coverage here, here and here.
Pregnant women prisoners shackled during labour
Joanna acts for a woman seeking accountability for her experience of being handcuffed during antenatal examinations and labour whilst a prisoner at HMP Bronzefield. Bhatt Murphy act for a number of former pregnant prisoners who are calling for an independent investigation into the practice. More details and links to news coverage here
LJ v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police (2025)
Joanna acted for LJ, who recovered substantial damages after he was arrested by Merseyside Police for filming a Just Stop Oil protest at the Open Golf Championship in Liverpool in 2023. More info here
SM v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis (2024)
Joanna acted for SM, a British man of South Asian heritage, who was assaulted without warning outside his partner’s address and suffered a head injury. SM secured damages of £5,500 from the Metropolitan Police after officers failed to adequately investigate. More details here
Civil claims arising out of the Grenfell Tower Fire
Joanna was part of the team acting for bereaved families and residents affected by the Grenfell Tower Fire in their civil claims.
SA v Chief Constable City of London Police (2023)
Joanna acted for SA, a British man of Iranian heritage, who was driving through the City of London in early 2020 when he was stopped under the Road Traffic Act. Despite being compliant with the stop, he was handcuffed within two minutes of stopping his vehicle and remained in handcuffs at the roadside for almost 20 minutes while officers inspected his vehicle. During this time he was also threatened with PAVA spray. SA secured damages of £7,500 from City of London Police. Read more here
Brook House Public Inquiry (2023)
The Brook House Public Inquiry was set up to investigate the abuse of individuals detained at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre. Joanna was part of Bhatt Murphy’s Brook House Public Inquiry team, representing individuals formerly detained at Brook House and the charity Medical Justice. Bhatt Murphy was jointly shortlisted for the 2023 Halsbury Rule of Law Award for its work on the Inquiry. Read more on Medical Justice’s website here. The Inquiry’s report is published on its website here.
R(Flynn) v Chief Constable of British Transport Police (2020)
Joanna acted for Jessie-Lu Flynn in her judicial review of British Transport Police officers’ decision to threaten her with arrest if she did not cover a “Fuck Boris” T-shirt she was wearing at a Black Lives Matter demonstration. Officers incorrectly claimed that the t-shirt constituted a breach of part of the Public Order Act. Ms Flynn secured an apology from the British Transport Police and an admission that the officers had acted unlawfully. News report here
