Chris Wilkinson
Partner
- Phone:
- +44 (0)20 7822 1902
- Email:
- chris.wilkinson@weightmans.com
- Office:
- Liverpool
Chris is a Partner based in the Liverpool office and is nationally recognised as a specialist lawyer in acting for police, law enforcement and public bodies.
Clients describe Chris as being "a truly excellent police lawyer" who "stands out for his intimate knowledge of the policing sector".
Chris works across a wide range of disciplines including regulatory and discipline, governance and policy, operational, public law challenges and civil claims. The wide array of areas Chris works in is unrivalled. He has a detailed knowledge of the civil preventative orders available to the police in the magistrates courts and has supported the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs' Council with the national rollout of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders.
Currently, Chris supports several forces in the prosecution of officers subject to gross misconduct proceedings. He also regularly assists forces and their respective police authorities on governance and policy matters. Additionally, Chris provides training to forces and their insurers on a variety of matters.
Chris began his career in the public sector and has used his experience to help police forces the length of England in providing short and long term cover for various in-house legal roles.
Away from the office, you will find Chris watching the Arsenal, hiking across the countryside or in the kitchen baking something sweet!
-
Chris is a very good litigator in the field of police misconduct
Chambers and Partners 2026 -
Chris is a truly excellent police lawyer. He stands out for his intimate knowledge of the policing sector and of policing, his thorough approach to case consideration and his client care. Chris is a very good litigator in the field of police misconduct.
Chambers and Partners, 2026 -
Chris is a hard-working associate with a bright future in the police law field.
Chambers and Partners 2025 -
Chris is relaxed whilst also being dedicated and committed to his clients.
Chambers and Partners 2025
Experience and notable cases:
Brown & Brown -v- Merseyside Police (2024) (unreported)
A five-day gross misconduct hearing resulting in the dismissal of an officer regarding allegations of sexual assault and attempted rape.
Part of the Commissioner's legal team.
A strike out application regarding a negligence and misfeasance in public office claim brought by someone born as a result of a liaison between an activist and a man who subsequently turned out to be an undercover police officer.
An application for an injunction in the High Court.
Carter -v- Chief Constable of Essex Police [2025] EWCA Civ 367
A summary judgment/strike out application regarding a misuse of private information claim concerning the apparent unlawful disclosure of information to the Latvian authorities.
The successful defence of a misfeasance in public office and malicious prosecution claim with a pleaded value of over £10,000,000.
The Undercover Policing Public Inquiry
Part of the team that supported the North West Ambulance Service.
Karpichkov -v- National Crime Agency [2023] EWHC 2653 (KB)
Persons formerly known as Winch [2021] EWHC 3284 (QB)
NPCC and College of Policing DAPO rollout programme (2026)
Newhaven Port & Properties -v- East Sussex County Council [2015] UKSC 7
TBS v Metropolitan Police Commissioner [2017] EWHC 3094
The Southport Inquiry
PC Daniel Julian gross misconduct (2026)
Challenge to the local authority's decision to register a beach in Newhaven as a town or village green pursuant to the Commons Act 2006.
The successful response to an appeal concerning the police's ability to remove a detainee's clothing when in custody.
