As such he was taken to court by his former deputy Neil Kinrade over the Manx Bugging Scandal and other matters, and has been repeatedly criticised on the floor of Tynwald by John Houghton MHK, a strong Police critic.
Culverhouse was also controversial in his appointment of non-Manx Senior Officers including Mike Langdon as Deputy who took over as Chief Constable.
However, in August 2006 the Interception of Communications Tribunal made an Order that found that warrants applied for by Culverhouse for telephone bugging were unlawful.
Graley's argument before the Strasbourg Court is that the Attorney General should have no part to play with the investigators if he is to act as a safeguard for the potential target of a warrant, and that the legislation is not compatible with the convention.
Another retired police officer, Roger Thomson, applied to the Strasbourg Court in respect of his telephone calls being intercepted.