Police appeal over damages

Hertfordshire Constabulary is appealing against a human rights ruling that saw the parents of murdered optometrist Giles Van Colle awarded £50,000 in damages in March this year.

When Van Colle was shot by former employee Daniel Brougham, Hertfordshire Constabulary accepted disciplinary findings that the officer in charge of the case had 'failed to perform his duties conscientiously and diligently', but denied liability and refused to accept there had been a breach of human rights of Van Colle or his family.

In failing to protect Van Colle's life prior to appearing as a witness against Brougham, the police were found to be in violation of Article 2 and 8 of the Human Rights Act.

Ahead of the hearing at London's Court of Appeal, Van Colle's father Irwin said that if the judgement was upheld it would have a significant impact and would become a textbook human rights case.