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John Beggs QC

CALLED TO THE BAR 1989

Queen's Counsel

Professional Discipline 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

General Information

  


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

 

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

 

'“Robust advocate” John Beggs “is by far the biggest star junior here." He 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

 

"Pre-eminent junior John Beggs is highly regarded: ‘the best police law junior at the Bar’, ‘his work is of the highest quality’, ‘a Rolls-Royce advocate’ who ‘sees a case from the whole perspective’." Legal 500 2007

 

"Better than most silks out there," John Beggs adopts a "subtle but forceful approach and tenacious cross-examination style really give the opposition a headache." "Appropriately aggressive and a vociferous advocate," he is the obvious choice for defending the police in the most difficult civil claims, especially where issues of race are involved.” Chambers & Partners 2006

Nature of Practice

  

Police Discipline  John has appeared as presenting counsel for many Forces, including in several substantial and complex internal investigations. Although John mainly presents discipline cases, he has also represented superintendent ranked officers in several major discipline inquiries, including Operation Lancet.

Medical professional discipline  Extensive experience of disciplinary work particularly in the General Medical Council.

 

Specialist Information

 


Reported and other cases of Interest

 

Stockwell shooting [2005 onwards] - John advised the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to all 14 officers (from Commander to constable) made the subject of a disciplinary investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. In fact, John has acted in many of the high profile police shootings of the last decade.  

Operation Passport - John acted on behalf of West Yorkshire Police in relation to this significant operation against police officers in Leeds who had allegedly given drugs to prisoners in return for confessions.

Ex parte The Telegraph Group and others   [2001] 1 WLR 1983 (concerning reporting restrictions in trials of officers charged with murder and misfeasance; consideration of s.4(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and its interplay with Articles 6 and 10)



Clients

 


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 Beggs has lectured widely throughout the police service and is a highly regarded for his police training work. 

 

In June 1999 he organised and presented a national conference at New Scotland Yard involving lawyers and senior police officers from Los Angeles on The Human Rights Act: Learning from the US Experience”.

He wrote and co-ordinated a programme of Human Rights seminars for superintendent ranks and above in the Metropolitan Police Service in 2000 which training was independently audited and highly rated. 

John produced a training video for the Metropolitan Police Service (“Giving Evidence”) which won the 2001 New York Film Festival Gold Medal in the Training Category.

In March 2002 he co-presented a 2 day seminar on “Contract Killings” at Europol in the Hague (with Chris Johnston of 3 Serjeants’ Inn chambers).

 

He continues to provide the police service with training products on request.  

Related Professional Activities

 


Other Information