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Often forms “a formidable police law team” with John Beggs QC and Amy Street. Legal 500 2010
"...'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
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George’s public law practice stems primarily from his work in police, disciplinary and coronial law. As a result, he has experience in public law work arising in a wide range of policing and healthcare.
Inquests
George specialises in inquest law. He has very extensive experience of Article 2 inquests in relation to detained patients, deaths in custody and deaths following contact with the police and mental health services. He is able to deal with the full range of legal issues that arise, including challenges by way of judicial review to the arrangements for, conduct of, and verdicts following inquests. He regularly advises and acts in civil claims He contributes to the Inquest Law Reports.
Discipline and Regulation
George appears regularly in professional discipline cases, in the GMC, GDC, HPC, internal police discipline tribunals and the Police Appeals Tribunal. As a result, he has also appeared frequently in the High Court in judicial review proceedings relating to professional discipline and regulation. He has appeared in a number of cases of interest, including the scope on the duties of confidentiality and the basis for reopening old misconduct findings.
Police Law
George acts regularly for police authorities and chief constables where the exercise of police powers is challenged in both the private and public law jurisdictions. He has advised or acted in a number of cases of interest, from challenges to police cautions, to the appropriate conditions to be imposed on public demonstrations and the extent of an individual’s right to wear a ‘hoodie’. George also advises police authorities on the implications of the Human Rights Act for planned police actions.
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R (on the application of B) v Greenwich Magistrates Court and the Metropolitan Police Service [2008] EWHC 2882, (2009) HLR 24 A case which corrected the widespread misconception that an ASBO banning the wearing of a ‘hoodie’ would be disproportionate.
R (on the application of Warren) v HM Assistant Coroner for Northamptonshire [2008] EWHC 966 (Admin) The extent to which the High Court could declare, in advance of an inquest, that case management decisions made by the Coroner would render the inquest non-compliant with ECHR Article 2.
R(Bower) v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire (QBD 12.6.09) The extent of the Court’s power to interfere with a very old misconduct finding.
R (Hussain) v Police Appeals Tribunal (QBD 7.11.08) Confirming that the duty of confidentiality is breached when confidential records are accessed without proper reason, regardless of the use to which the contents are subsequently put.
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