Sitemap

George Thomas

CALLED TO THE BAR 1995

Junior Counsel


Police Profile

Background

 

1991 - 1994 Cambridge University, Clare College, BA Hons (Law)
Dissertation: “Biological Explanations for Violent Behaviour”
1994 - 1995 Inns of Court School of Law
1995 – 1996 Pupillage at 3 Serjeants’ Inn

Email: gthomas@3serjeantsinn.com



General Information

 


Directory Comments

 

George is recommended in police law by the Legal 500.

 

"...'very knowledgeable, thorough, robust and effective'..." Legal 500 2010

 

George Thomas 'continues to build on a strong reputation for a range of police work, including civil actions, disciplinary cases, inquests and judicial reviews.' Chambers and Partners 2010 

 

'George Thomas is “a details man - he leaves no stone unturned in his preparation and is very methodical in his cross-examination.” This “particularly persuasive advocate” acted for the Metropolitan Police in the long-running and widely reported case Austin & Saxby v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, arising from the May Day demonstrations.' Chambers & Partners 2009

 

"...George Thomas is seen as ‘hard-working’, ‘patient and thorough’ and ‘a safe pair of hands’." Legal 500 2007



Nature of Practice

 

Civil Claims Against the Police   George has acted for numerous constabularies in civil claims covering the full range of policing, from drunken fights to firearms operations and murder enquiries. He has extensive jury trial experience. He also has a wide experience of other civil claims, such as Police Property Act applications, personal injury and acting on behalf of the police discovery/PII applications in Children Act proceedings. George was recently junior counsel for the Metropolitan Police in the “May Day 2001” test cases in the High Court.

Football Banning Orders   George has been advising and acting for Football Intelligence Units ever since the Football (Disorder) Act 2004 first came into force. In addition to individual banning orders, he has also advised Football Intelligence Units on the tactics of the efficient preparation of evidence in order to maximise the prospects of getting hooligans banned. During the 2004-2005 he acted for the Leicestershire Police in obtaining a banning order against a ‘general’ in the ‘Leicester Baby Squad’.

ASBOs / POCAs etc   George frequently represents the police in the Magistrates’ Courts’ civil jurisdiction, including anti-social behaviour orders covering the range of human anti-social behaviour and applications for forfeiture orders.

Employment  George has a broad employment practice and regularly appears in the Employment Tribunal for both applicant and respondent. He has a particular interest in race and sex discrimination.

Discipline  George acts as presenting officer and advises forces on disciplinary matters.

Inquests  George has acted in numerous inquests on behalf of the police, including those involving deaths in custody, sensitive murder investigations and deaths of officers on duty.



Specialist Information

 


Reported and other cases of Interest

 
Austin v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis   Metropolis [2005] EWHC 480 (QB), The Times, 14th April 2005: Test cases arising out of the policing of the 2001 “May Day Protests” in Oxford Circus (with John Beggs and Amy Street). The test cases were dismissed and the case is currently on appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Hargreaves v Barron Industrial Services Limited   [2003] EWCA Civ 1038 – civil claim for conspiracy and fraud, loss of chance to tender successfully for public civil engineering contracts.

Knight v Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust   [2004] 1 WLR 371, (2003) 74 BMLR 204. Limitation Act 1980 s.10, date from which time starts to run for contribution proceedings.



Clients

 


Publications

 


Lectures and Seminars

 
‘Giving Evidence’   practical advice for officers in preparing and giving evidence.
Sex and Race Discrimination in the Police Service.

Related Professional Activities

 


Other Information