Professional Discipline

Our expertise in all aspects of alleged police misconduct is unparalleled. We represent police officers and police authorities in disciplinary, criminal, and public proceedings dealing with offences ranging from allegations of misconduct to corruption and manslaughter.

We are particularly experienced in dealing with high-profile and sensitive cases and have appeared in nearly every significant inquest or public inquiry relating to the conduct of the police in the last twenty years.

Our expertise extends to advising national representative bodies on matters of policy and practice. Hugh Davies QC, is co-author of the leading practitioners’ textbook exclusively dedicated to police discipline, entitled “Police Misconduct, Complaints, and Public Regulation” (OUP 2009).

In addition to our unrivalled reputation for police misconduct work, including Inquests, we are regularly instructed by a wide range of disciplinary authorities and respondents in proceedings dealing with the full spectrum of professional misconduct. In particular, members at all levels of call appear before bodies such as:

• General Dental Council
• General Medical Council
• General Optical Council
• Health Professions Council
• Institute of Chartered Accountants
• Professional Conduct Committee of the General Council of the Bar
• Regulatory Decisions Committee of the Financial Services Authority
• Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
• Various sports disciplinary tribunals (including British Boxing Board of Control, Football Association, UK Athletics, International Association of Athletics Federations, International Cricket Council, Lawn Tennis Association)

Our first-rate skills as criminal advocates enable us to provide robust representation for our clients in proceedings that may have serious ramifications for their professional reputations and careers. In addition, our vast experience in criminal, regulatory and public law means that we can provide continuity of representation in any related criminal proceedings (including the offence of misconduct in public office), inquests or inquiries or judicial review claims.