Hertfordshire Police Compensates IT Director After Unlawful Arrest Over Blog Post
Hertfordshire Police has agreed to pay £34,000 in compensation to an IT director who was wrongfully detained overnight following an unlawful search of his home. The incident stemmed from a blog post written by Samuel Smith, leading to a High Court claim that forced the force into a humiliating settlement.
Details of the Unlawful Arrest and Detention
In March 2025, a dozen officers arrived at Samuel Smith's home, conducted an illegal search, and arrested the 47-year-old. He was held overnight at Hatfield police station, with his electronic devices seized. The court order confirms that Hertfordshire Police admits Mr Smith was 'unlawfully' arrested and detained, committed no offence, and that officers 'trespassed' on his property.
Body-worn footage from the arrest shows Mr Smith answering the door in a dressing gown and visibly shaking. He was informed he was arrested for false communications, a summary offence, yet the search was executed under more serious malicious communications charges.
Legal Proceedings and Outcome
Samuel Smith took Hertfordshire Police to the High Court after the incident. As part of the settlement, his arrest will be scrubbed from the Police National Computer, with a marker added to the electronic system indicating he was subjected to false allegations. The force has apologised and settled out of court, with Mr Smith expressing gratitude for the support he received.
This case marks a second significant climbdown for Hertfordshire Police, following a previous incident where they paid £20,000 to a couple unlawfully arrested after complaining about their daughter's school on WhatsApp. In that case, six officers detained the couple for 11 hours on suspicion of harassment and malicious communications.
Background on the Blog Post
Mr Smith writes a blog under the pseudonym Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General, named after a historical figure from the 1600s. He published an article about a woman falsely accused of being a paedophile, referring to two men as an extremist and a drug user after they posted false information about her. This content prompted reports to the police, leading to the controversial arrest.
Just six days after his arrest, detectives noted in police logs that the search was 'not lawful', and the case was subsequently dropped. The swift internal acknowledgment of wrongdoing highlights the procedural failures in this instance.
