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Briony specialises in police law, for which she is recommended by leading legal directory Chambers & Partners. She has acted for a significant number of UK police forces in a wide range of areas. Briony’s experience includes civil claims (including claims under the Protection from Harassment Act, breach of the peace, assault and false imprisonment) inquests, judicial review proceedings and misconduct proceedings.
Civil Actions involving the Police: Briony regularly settles claims and provides advice on civil claims to police forces. She has appeared in a number of trials, including those involving allegations of assault and false imprisonment, race discrimination, negligence and breach of the peace cases. Briony also has experience of wrongful imprisonment in a terrorist context post 9/11 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
Police Misconduct: Briony has been retained by a number of Forces to appear on behalf of the Presenting Officer to prosecute disciplinary charges involving issues of dishonesty, sexual harrassment and victimisation / bullying. She also has considerable experience of advising on evidence and disclosure and drafting charges. She recently successfully presented the case for dismissal of an officer for dishonesty whilst investigating a case of historic sexual abuse.
Judicial Review: Briony has advised and represented several police forces in relation to judicial review matters. Her experience includes: challenges to decisions to charge rather than warn or reprimand a juvenile, and the hearing and progress of crack house closure orders, as well as other Administrative Court cases including appeals by way of Case Stated from Magistrates' Courts exercising jurisdiction under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
Inquests: Briony has considerable inquest experience including inquests into deaths in police custody and deaths in prison, both within normal location and the segregation unit. She as acted on behalf of police forces, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, individual officers and Forensic Medical Examiners in coroner's inquests.
Applications in the magistrates' court: Briony has extensive experience acting on behalf of the police in applications for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, Sexual Offences Prevention Orders, Risk of Sexual Harm Orders, Notification Orders, Football Banning Orders, Closure Orders and orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. She has also acted in a number of appeals to the Crown Court and High Court concerning such applications.
Briony has also acts in appeals under the Firearms Act 1968.
Disclosure: Briony has frequently represented police forces in applications for disclosure, where issues of public interest immunity and / or confidentiality arise, often in the context of child abuse cases.
Other work: Briony has provided advice on both operational and policy matters, including the retention of photographs of missing persons and the selling of unclaimed / seized property via internet auction sites.
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