Anna Crawford

Anna specialises in human rights law and acts for clients at inquests, in judicial review claims, public inquiries, police complaints and civil actions against the state. 

Anna has significant experience in acting at inquests for the families of individuals who have died in custody.  Since joining Hickman & Rose she has represented the family of Brendan Flynn who died in at HMP Wakefield, the family of Brendan Parr who died at HMP Edmunds Hill and the family of David Croke who died at HMP Whitemoor.  She was also part of the team representing the family of Michael Bailey and the family of Wayne Reid, both of whom died at HMP Rye Hill.

Anna acts in civil actions against the state including for assault, false imprisonment, and negligence. She is currently part of the team representing Gary Reynolds in a civil claim against Sussex Police and the private security company which runs Brighton Custody Suite. Gary Reynolds is paralysed on the left side of his body and suffers from a permanent brain injury after being found in a coma in his cell in Brighton Custody Suite in March 2008.  Anna has also represented a number of families in successful civil claims arising out of deaths in custody.

Recent examples of Anna’s judicial review work include challenging the lawfulness of police cautions and police search warrants. She is part of the team that challenged the Justice Secretary’s refusal to compensate Andrew Adams for the 14 years he spent in prison following a conviction for murder which was subsequently overturned.  Mr Adams has recently been granted leave to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. 

Anna joined Hickman & Rose in January 2007.  Previously she worked with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and as a Human Rights Officer at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. She has also acted as a consultant to the Council of Europe and to Amnesty International. 

She holds a European Masters’ Degree in Human Rights and Democratization from the University of Padova in Italy (distinction) and was awarded the Law Society national prize for outstanding performance on the Legal Practice Course in 2006.

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