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High Court Rules Police Federation Suspensions Unlawful, Awards £840,000 Costs
The High Court ruled that the Police Federation unlawfully suspended two officials over remarks on race, breaching their freedom of expression rights. The organization spent over £500,000 on legal fees and faces a total bill of approximately £840,000, funded by officer subscriptions. Both officials successfully challenged their suspensions through judicial review.
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The High Court ruled in January 2026 that the Police Federation unlawfully suspended two branch officials over remarks concerning race, costing the organization over £500,000 in legal fees. GB News reported that the federation paid £326,427 to solicitors and an additional £201,480 in barristers' fees, including costs for a King's Counsel.
With the federation now liable for the legal costs of the two officials, the total bill for the failed action is expected to reach approximately £840,000, all funded through officer subscriptions.
Rick Prior, former head of the Metropolitan Police Federation, and Richard Cooke from the West Midlands branch both successfully challenged their suspensions through judicial review. The suspensions prevented Prior and Cooke from standing in the 2025 Police Federation of England and Wales elections.
Documents obtained through freedom of information requests revealed these costs, as reported by GB News.
Prior appeared on television to warn that officers were growing increasingly anxious about using force, fearing unfounded racism complaints. ' The federation deemed his remarks potentially discriminatory and suspended him the following day. Prior was dismissed after telling The Telegraph he might expect better treatment in North Korea.
Cooke, who represents 7,000 West Midlands officers, was suspended after posting on X that he rejected claims of widespread racism and misogyny within his force. ' The High Court determined that the federation had breached both officials' Article 10 right to freedom of expression.
