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21/02/2007

DEAF MAN LOSES LEGAL CASE AGAINST POLICE

A deaf man has lost his legal battle for compensation against Northumbria Police, UK, after claiming his use of sign language was wrongly interpreted.

Shaun Phuprate was arrested in an incident in 2002 when standing in the road eating a pizza late at night.

He tried to explain he was deaf using a BSL sign.

But police mistook this as an insulting gesture and arrested him for being drunk and disorderly.

The charge was later thrown out by magistrates.

Mr Phuprate – profoundly deaf since birth – then took legal action, claiming wrongful arrest.

Five years on, a civil jury in Newcastle has decided the arrest was justified because officers genuinely believed he was drunk.

This case highlights the importance of deaf awareness amongst public sector services.