Police misconduct

The largest police team in private practice.

Members of the police force have always been held to the highest standards, to protect both the individual officers and the integrity of the institution as a whole. Maintaining these standards is vital if it is to retain the confidence and respect of the public they serve.

The Taylor Reforms introduced a two-tier system of discipline within the force, one for misconduct and one for gross misconduct which can lead to dismissal, both of which require expert legal assistance in their implementation.

Weightmans’ Police Misconduct team is the largest in private practice, including two partners, Martin Forshaw and John Riddell, who have extensive experience in the field. Our team has presented cases on both sides, and has acted as expert advisers to both disciplinary panels and Chief Constables. We have also been a part of the Judicial Review process.

As with all official procedures, misconduct cases must be handled in a prescribed manner in order to validate the outcome. Weightmans can provide extensive training to all officers involved to ensure they understand the demands of the Taylor Reforms.

Weightmans training includes familiarising staff with all relevant paperwork, including current regulations and Home Office Guidance, as well as providing practical scenarios to illustrate how these are applied in practice. Our training includes sessions on how to investigate cases, how to run a misconduct meeting or gross misconduct hearing and how to write a judgement.

This training has been well received by police forces across the country, with positive feedback constantly improving our content and delivery to ensure our courses remain practical and relevant to the administration of modern policing.

Taylor Reform issues are just one of the many aspects of policing covered by our team, and we produce regular updates to all our clients detailing the latest changes in all aspects of police law.

For further information, please contact Martin Forshaw or John Riddell.