Kevin Duffy was given the cash for a wrongful arrest but had it confiscated after banking the cheque
A man who won £13,000 compensation from police was arrested and had his cash seized - minutes after he collected part of the payment.
Kevin Duffy, 24, from Liverpool, won the money after being locked up for breaching bail conditions, even though the charges had already been dropped.
Police admitted false imprisonment and assault - Mr Duffy says they stripped him naked - and made an out-of-court settlement.
But just after Mr Duffy cashed the first payment of £3,000, cops stopped the car he was in, arrested him, and held onto the money for almost a month.
He said: "I left the bank at around midday. Ten minutes later they arrested me.
"I was in a car with a friend. They said they were pulling it over for a vehicle check, but everything was fine.
"More officers came. They said they were searching the car for cannabis, because they could smell it inside the car.”
Mr Duffy was arrested and locked up for six hours before being released. When he asked for the cash, he was told it was at a different police station.
He said: "I didn't get it back until a month later and in the meantime I had to borrow money and pay interest.
"I'm not an angel but I know two wrongs don't make a right."
Mr Duffy's solicitor Iain Gould said: "The current police policy seems to be that repeated harassment of innocent citizens is not only acceptable, but encouraged.
"Mr Duffy is one of many such clients throughout England and Wales for whom I have successfully recovered compensation.
"It is time for a root and branch review of police training to establish why this keeps happening. As taxpayers, we simply can't afford it."
The original incident took place in early 2013 - Mr Duffy had faced a charge of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs, which he denied, and was given strict bail conditions, including an electronically monitored curfew.
His solicitors old him the case had been dropped, and the bail conditions cancelled with immediate effect.
But the next day, he alleges police forced their way into his mum’s home, who Mr Duffy cares for part time, and wrongly arrested him.
He said: "I explained I wasn't on bail but they put me in handcuffs."
Mr Duffy accepted he was agitated and upset, but insisted he did not resist, act aggressively or swear at officers.
He alleged three officers removed his top, trousers and socks to make him wear a smock, but by doing so stripped him naked in a cell because he was not wearing underpants, which he described as a "humiliating and degrading experience".
He was finally released at around 1.15am, after police established he was no longer subject to any bail conditions.
Mr Duffy said: "My mother has mental health issues and it is just appalling the way things have been. It's had a terrible impact on my family.
"These people are there first and foremost to ensure the public's well-being."
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm that the force's professional standards department has received a complaint in relation to this matter.
"As enquiries are currently being made in relation to this complaint it would be inappropriate to comment any further."
A man who won £13,000 compensation from police was arrested and had his cash seized - minutes after he collected part of the payment.
Kevin Duffy, 24, from Liverpool, won the money after being locked up for breaching bail conditions, even though the charges had already been dropped.
Police admitted false imprisonment and assault - Mr Duffy says they stripped him naked - and made an out-of-court settlement.
But just after Mr Duffy cashed the first payment of £3,000, cops stopped the car he was in, arrested him, and held onto the money for almost a month.
He said: "I left the bank at around midday. Ten minutes later they arrested me.
"I was in a car with a friend. They said they were pulling it over for a vehicle check, but everything was fine.
"More officers came. They said they were searching the car for cannabis, because they could smell it inside the car.”
Mr Duffy was arrested and locked up for six hours before being released. When he asked for the cash, he was told it was at a different police station.
He said: "I didn't get it back until a month later and in the meantime I had to borrow money and pay interest.
"I'm not an angel but I know two wrongs don't make a right."
Mr Duffy's solicitor Iain Gould said: "The current police policy seems to be that repeated harassment of innocent citizens is not only acceptable, but encouraged.
"Mr Duffy is one of many such clients throughout England and Wales for whom I have successfully recovered compensation.
"It is time for a root and branch review of police training to establish why this keeps happening. As taxpayers, we simply can't afford it."
The original incident took place in early 2013 - Mr Duffy had faced a charge of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs, which he denied, and was given strict bail conditions, including an electronically monitored curfew.
His solicitors old him the case had been dropped, and the bail conditions cancelled with immediate effect.
But the next day, he alleges police forced their way into his mum’s home, who Mr Duffy cares for part time, and wrongly arrested him.
He said: "I explained I wasn't on bail but they put me in handcuffs."
Mr Duffy accepted he was agitated and upset, but insisted he did not resist, act aggressively or swear at officers.
He alleged three officers removed his top, trousers and socks to make him wear a smock, but by doing so stripped him naked in a cell because he was not wearing underpants, which he described as a "humiliating and degrading experience".
He was finally released at around 1.15am, after police established he was no longer subject to any bail conditions.
Mr Duffy said: "My mother has mental health issues and it is just appalling the way things have been. It's had a terrible impact on my family.
"These people are there first and foremost to ensure the public's well-being."
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm that the force's professional standards department has received a complaint in relation to this matter.
"As enquiries are currently being made in relation to this complaint it would be inappropriate to comment any further."
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