How do you claim compensation for mistreatment by the police?
Right to compensation
You have the right to compensation if you have suffered damages as a result of the unlawful activities of the police. Damages can result from a wide range of behaviour. For example, the excessive use of force during police custody, physical and verbal abuse and a disregard for your needs in the detention place. Therefore, you can ask for compensation for both – material losses and moral damages.
Where to submit the complaint?
You should submit a complaint about the mistreatment to the Ministry of the Interior first. Read more about the submission of the complaint.
Compensation in a criminal case
An investigator may open a criminal case against the police officers on the basis of your complaint. In this case, you can ask for compensation for damages as a victim in criminal proceedings. If the compensation claim cannot or cannot fully redress your damages within criminal proceedings, you have the further right to ask for these damages by filing a civil claim. In some cases, you also have the right to receive compensation from the State as a victim.
Read more about this in the Crime Victim Compensation Act.
Compensation in civil proceedings
There may also be situations where the actions of the police will not qualify as a criminal offence. However, there may still be a violation which qualifies as a disciplinary violation and infringes your human rights. In this case, you can seek compensation from the state by filing a civil claim to a court of general jurisdiction (civil court).