John Beggs QC

CALLED TO THE BAR 1989

Queen's Counsel

Police Profile

Background

2009: Appointed joint head of chambers, 3 Serjeants' Inn

2009: Appointed silk
1987: Brunel University LL.B (Hons) 2:1
1975 – 1982: Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, Kent

Email: jb@3sinn.com

Directory Comments

Until taking silk in March 2009, John was for many years recognised as the UK's top junior for police work in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. He was also highly ranked in the Professional Discipline section of Chambers and Partners. As the quotations from clients and practitioners below illustrate, John is a first rate advocate and trial lawyer, renowned in particular for his tactical skills and his effective cross-examination.

Since taking silk his practice has included libel, judicial review, regulatory proceedings (including the SDT, GMC and police gross misconduct panels), High Court and County Court civil actions involving the police, serious inquests and specialist criminal defence work.

John Beggs QC, whose varied practice has seen him representing superintendent and federated officers in several major discipline inquiries and misconduct matters. He further specialises in defending police forces in defamation cases where the defence is one of qualified privilege. Beggs is highly thought of throughout the profession and is considered “one of the best and most efficient practitioners around." Commentators note that he is "imaginative, has a great eye for detail and does not suffer fools gladly.” Chambers and Partners 2010

John Beggs QC has also recently taken silk. He is known for the "excellent professional service" and "clear and concise views" he furnishes his clients with. Chambers and Partners 2010

'John Beggs is renowned for his tough advocacy skills: “If you have a case with really heavy facts, and you want somebody to cross-examine it into the ground, he’s your man.”' Chambers & Partners 2009

'“Robust, approachable and pragmatic,” Beggs "is your man if you’re looking for a good, forceful advocate.”' Chambers & Partners 2009

‘As one solicitor said: "Beggs' mantra is 'I win cases.' He's not wrong."’ Chambers & Partners 2008

"For 'encyclopaedic knowledge' of police work John Beggs is highly regarded. 'His work in sensitive cases is unparalleled'; he is an 'innovative pleader'..." Legal 500 2008

'John Beggs has "superb presentation skills." Interviewees singled him out for his "polished delivery and his skill in examining every angle of a case," lauding him as a "siren voice in the courtroom." His practice is heavily freighted with police disciplinary work, which he "attacks with venom and great gusto." Those lucky enough to instruct him do so because he is a "proven winner".’ Chambers & Partners 2008

'“Robust advocate” John Beggs is "the best jury advocate of his generation by a long way and understands juries and how they work.“ Commentators believe that he understands the police service better than anyone else.' Chambers & Partners 2008

Nature of Practice

John has a reputation as an outstanding trial advocate. His trial experience in the police field is unrivalled. John has acted for most police forces in the country and is always hugely in demand. He appears in the biggest and most controversial civil cases and in many complex internal disciplinary investigations.

Civil actions involving the police – has defended police forces in well over 100 civil trials
Professional discipline – acts as presenting counsel and also represents senior officers
Inquests/inquiries – enormous range of experience
Employment – extensive experience representing forces in employment tribunals, particularly in race, sex and religious discrimination claims
Police pensions – specialist knowledge of claims for ill health pensions
Judicial review – frequently acts for police in judicial reviews
Operation advice – John is often the “go to” barrister on sensitive police operations

Reported and other cases of Interest

North Yorkshire Police Authority v. IPCC [2010] EWHC 1690 (Admin): acted for the Claimant police authority in this judicial review concerning the ambit of direction and control matters in the context of complaints against the police.

Bhatti v. Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2010] EWHC 522 (Admin)] : acted for the Defendant in this judicial review concerning the technical requirements of search warrants under PACE.

Austin v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [UKHL] 2009: acted for the Metropolitan Police Service in this lengthy and high profile case concerning the policing of May Day protests 2001.

Buckley v. Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2009] EWCA Civ 356: acted for Chief Constable on case concerning threshold for reasonable suspicion to arrest.

Khan v. Chief Constable of Lancashire Police [2009] EWHC 472 (Admin): acted for Chief Constable in important contemporary analysis of regulation 13 “dispensation of probationer constable” case concerning Art 8 and associated issues.

Ferriday v. Chief Constable of Gwent Police [2009] EWHC 2083 (Admin): acted for Chief constable in another Regulation 13 dispute.

Raissi and Raissi v. Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2008] EWCA Civ 1237: defended Metropolitan Police Service in first post-9/11 wrongful imprisonment claim.

Laporte v. Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Police and others (2007) 2 AC 105, HL: acted for the Metropolitan Police Service in this important test case concerning pre=-emptive arrest to prevent a breach of the peace.

Bolt v. Chief Constable of Merseyside Police [2007] EWHC 2607 (Admin): acted for Chief Constable on judicial review concerning proper extent of a “review” under police conduct regulations.

IPCC v. Chief Constable of West Midlands and others [2007] EWHC 2715 (Admin): acted for Chief Constable of Derbyshire in judicial review concerning entitlement of family of deceased to attend hearing into misconduct of police officers.

Ernest Bennett v. HM Coroner and others [2007] EWCA Civ 617: acted for Metropolitan Police Service in appeal against Admin Court’s decision concerning appropriate verdicts to leave to coronial jury.

Cash v. HM Coroner for Northamptonshire and others [2007] EWHC 1354 (Admin): acted for Chief Constable in review of coroner’s withdrawal of unlawful killing from jury.

Family of Derek Bennett v. HM Coroner and others [2004] EWCA Civ 1439: acted for Metropolitan Police Service on judicial review concerning criteria for granting anonymity to armed officers in police fatal shooting.

Halford v. Chief Constable of Hampshire Police [2003] EWCA Civ 102: acted for Chief constable in defamation action relying (successfully) on qualified privilege defence.

Ex parte The Telegraph Group and others [2001] 1 WLR 1983: concerning reporting restrictions in trials of officers charged with murder and misfeasance.

R v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, ex parte M & Leon La Rose [2001] EWHC Admin 553: concerning adequate facilities for suspect – lawyer consultations under Article 6(3) ECHR).

R v Bedford Coroner ex parte Local Sunday Newspapers Ltd (1999) 164 J.P.283: concerning rights of armed officers to remain anonymous during inquests into police shootings.

R v Chief Constable of Kent Constabulary, ex parte (1) Kent Police Federation Joint Branch Board (2) Peter Harman, (2000) 2 Cr App R 196 : (2000) Crim LR 857 : (2000) COD 169, DC (Bingham LCJ, Harrison J) 1999: determining that reviews of detention under s.40(1)(b) PACE could not be conducted under live video link.

Clarke v Crew and another CA 1999: concerning duty owed by police to provide prison with accurate details of arrest date; and issue of novus actus.

Matthews and Dundas v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis QBD 1999: concerning entitlement of police officers to call “race” character witnesses.

R v Merseyside Police Authority ex parte Yates QBD (Latham J) 19/2/99: determining that an application for judicial review of a police authority decision under the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 was not appropriate because the statutory provision in the Regulations provided an effective remedy for the applicant to appeal to the Crown Court.

O’Halloran and others v. Chief Constable of Bedfordshire, CA 1995: acted for the Chief Constable on an appeal concerning the function of judge and jury in claims for assault.

Publications

"Police Misconduct, Complaints and Regulation" by John Beggs QC and Hugh Davies, published by the Oxford University Press, was released in July 2009.

The book is described below (Copyright OUP). See here for more information.

The only work providing comprehensive coverage of the law relating to the regulation of the police
Dedicated chapters on complaints and discipline process, specific criminal offences, inquest proceedings, public inquiries and judicial review
Diagrams and process maps help to illustrate the narrative and legislation
Appendices include regulations and Home Office Guidance under the 2008 regime, and the new 2008 PAT Rules

Police Misconduct, Complaints and Public Regulation covers the highly sensitive topic of who polices the police. It provides comprehensive coverage of the law and procedure relating to the regulation of the police - setting out comprehensive guidance on practice at complaints and misconduct hearings, as well as detailed analysis of the powers of the IPCC and of its statutory guidance. It includes dedicated chapters on related sets of proceedings, notably the complaints and discipline process (from recording the complaint through to the Police Appeals Tribunal); specific criminal offences (misconduct in public office, manslaughter); inquest proceedings; public inquiries; and judicial review. The content reflects the substantial developments in the law and practice in these inter-related proceedings since the implementation of the Police Reform Act 2002 in April 2004, as well as the radical reforms introduced by the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008.

John Beggs QC and Hugh Davies have brought together the detail of all the relevant law into one comprehensive volume and provided a readily understandable commentary on all of its major aspects. This book deals succinctly with the criminal offences with which Police Officers may be changed in connection with their duties. The section on Coroners' Inquests provides an impressive précis of law and procedure as it affects deaths for which the police may be responsible. The disciplinary chapters explain the processes and then provide the texts of all the material statutory instruments. This work will be an invaluable guide to any practitioner concerned with any aspect of Police behaviour. To have all the material in one place will save hours of work. This work is something of a trail-blazer in the disciplinary field. It will not be long before similar works appear dealing with other professions. - The Honourable Mr Justice Burnett

Lectures and Seminars

John lectures widely within and for the police service.

He has particular expertise in police firearms operations; public order operations; police misconduct investigations; police performance issues; terrorism.

Particular training projects of note have included:

• Providing the training for the Met’s superintendents on the Human Rights Act 1998
• Providing an award winning video for the police service on “Giving Evidence” (which won the 2001 New York Film Festival Gold Medal in the “Training” category)
• Co-chairing in 2002 a 2 day conference run by Europol in the Hague on contract killings
• Key note speaker at the ACPO Professional Standards Conference in 2006 and 2007

John is accredited as an “Approved Provider” by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) for training for the new Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008 and Police (Performance) Regulations 2008.

He recently published, with Hugh Davies, though Oxford University Press, “Police Misconduct, Complaints and Regulation”, the definitive guide to the new police complaints, misconduct and performance regime.