"Police officers and social workers can be sued for defamation in England if they make a false statement that causes serious harm to someone's reputation, although certain legal protections like absolute privilege (for statements made in court) and qualified privilege (for certain official duties) may apply. A claim requires proving the statement was false, published to a third party, and resulted in serious harm to the person's reputation, as defined by the Defamation Act 2013.

When a Defamation Claim Might Be Possible

Police:
-- A defamation claim against the police could arise if an officer makes a public statement that wrongly accuses someone of a crime, prejudges the guilt of a suspect, or breaches confidentiality by sharing false information about an investigation.

Social Workers:
A social worker who circulates false and harmful information about a person could be sued for defamation.

Key Elements of a Defamation Claim
To succeed in a defamation claim, you must generally prove:
-- A False Statement: The statement made by the officer or social worker was untrue.
-- Publication: The statement was communicated to at least one other person.
-- Harm to Reputation: The statement caused or was likely to cause "serious harm" to the subject's reputation.

Defences and Limitations

Absolute Privilege:
-- Statements made in specific contexts, such as during court proceedings, have absolute privilege, meaning they cannot be the basis of a defamation claim even if false or malicious.

Qualified Privilege:
This defence may apply when a person makes a statement in the course of carrying out an official duty, like reporting a complaint. However, this defence can be defeated if the claimant proves the statement was made with malice.

High Threshold:
The Defamation Act 2013 sets a high bar for defamation claims, requiring the harm to reputation to be "serious".

What to Do

If you believe you have been defamed, it is important to seek legal advice from a lawyer specializing in defamation law as soon as possible. They can assess if your situation meets the legal criteria for a claim and advise on gathering evidence to support your case."

Home - Liberty
The equivalent of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in England is Liberty (officially Liberty: National Council for Civil Liberties), a long-standing and influential civil liberties and human rights advocacy organization in the UK. Like the ACLU, Liberty campaigns against injustice, defends freedom, challenges abusive power, and uses legal and public campaigns to protect fundamental rights for everyone in the United Kingdom.
What Liberty does:

Challenges Injustice:
-- Liberty works to make the UK a fairer and more equal place by challenging unjust laws, policies, and practices.

Defends Rights:
They champion and protect the rights of individuals and groups who feel let down by power, including on issues like surveillance, free speech, and discrimination.

Legal Action:
Liberty provides legal advice and supports groundbreaking cases to dismantle rights-violating laws and practices in the courts.

Policy & Advocacy:
They influence government policy by meeting with decision-makers, briefing politicians, and giving evidence to parliamentary committees to ensure rights are protected in new legislation.

Public Campaigns:
As a large membership organisation, Liberty rallies public support to campaign on a wide range of human rights issues.

History and Mission:
-- Founded in 1934:
---- The organization was founded as the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) in response to police attempts to stop protests.

Enduring Principles:
Liberty has remained a constant force for defending civil liberties and human rights for over 90 years.

Core Values:
Their work is guided by evidence, expertise, and a commitment to freedom, justice, dignity, and respect for all.

"To take a case on contingency means an attorney or law firm agrees to represent a client without upfront payment, and their fees are only due if the client wins a settlement or court judgment. The fee is then calculated as a predetermined percentage of the client's recovery, with the attorney also typically covering litigation costs which are then reimbursed from the recovery. This arrangement provides access to legal representation for individuals who cannot afford hourly fees, especially in personal injury or other cases where financial recovery is the goal.

How a Contingency fee (or a Conditional fee in England) Works

No Upfront Fees:
-- You are not charged attorney fees if you don't win your case.

Percentage of Recovery:
If you receive money from a settlement or verdict, your attorney receives a percentage of that amount.

Costs:
The lawyer may advance costs such as court filing fees, expert witness fees, and deposition costs. These advanced costs are usually reimbursed from your recovery before the attorney's fees are calculated, or as specified in the agreement.

Agreement:
The percentage and terms are outlined in a contingency fee agreement, which you and your attorney should clearly understand and sign.

Why Lawyers Take Cases on Contingency

Risk and Reward:
-- It's a gamble for the attorney; they invest time and resources with no guaranteed payment.

Potential for Large Wins:
A successful case can result in a significant payment for the lawyer, justifying the upfront risk.

Societal Impact:
This system allows people with limited funds to pursue justice against larger corporations or individuals who may have wronged them, promoting a more equitable legal system.

When Contingency Might Not Be an Option

Defensive Cases:

Lawyers generally do not take cases on contingency when someone is being sued, because there is no potential financial recovery to take a fee from.

Case Viability:

Attorneys may decline a case on contingency if they assess the chances of winning or recovering significant damages as too low."