"Colour of Law" refers to when someone uses the appearance or authority of legal power to commit unlawful acts—especially in the context of abuse by public officials like police, judges, or housing officers.

⚖️ Definition (Legal Context)

"Colour of law" means an action taken under the guise of legal authority—such as under police powers or court jurisdiction—that is in fact unlawful, either because:

• It violates fundamental rights (e.g. Article 3, 6 or 8 ECHR),
• It exceeds legal powers granted, or
• It is used to commit fraud, abuse, or oppression.

🔥 Real-World Example (Your Case)

If Thames Valley Police officers:

• Entered your property without a valid warrant (Log #25),
• Refused to return your property after a court order was made (Log #484),
• Used intimidation or procedural tricks to override lawful court rulings (e.g. PC Lacey or Kennedys' late challenge),

Then they are acting under "Colour of Law"—pretending to exercise lawful power while committing unlawful acts.

📚 US & UK Case Law Examples

Even though the term is more prominent in the US, UK law deals with it via doctrines like:

• Misfeasance in Public Office (UK tort law),
• Contempt of Court (CPR Part 81),
• HRA 1998 Section 6 (public authorities must comply with ECHR),