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From Certificates to Belief Statements: The CPS and the Limits of Forum Bar Intervention
Rebecca Niblock
On 26 July 2022 the Administrative Court dismissed the claim brought by the Metropolitan Police (“MPS”) against the decision of the Police Appeals Tribunal (“PAT”), which chose to reinstate Superintendent Robyn Williams in her role in the MPS, and impose a final written warning against her as a result of her criminal conviction. The MPS had argued that Supt. Williams should be dismissed.
Supt. Williams’ case received significant media attention for the unusual circumstances of her conviction, and her standing as a decorated police officer, having previously won the Queen’s Policing Medal and glowing testimonials for her work on the Notting Hill Carnival and the Grenfell fire.
Kingsley Napley represented Supt. Williams, who appeared as an interested party in the proceedings.
Mrs Justice Heather Williams dealt with the MPS’ arguments that the PAT failed to follow the correct approach in disciplinary proceedings against Supt. Williams, and that too much weight was given to mitigating factors in her favour. She found that the PAT was entitled to conclude that this was an ‘exceptional case’ and dismissal would not have been ‘a necessary and proportionate sanction’, and that there was no legal basis to overturn the PAT’s decision.
The public law team at Kingsley Napley drew upon their experience in judicial review litigation, regulatory and criminal proceedings to assist Supt. Williams successfully to prepare and present submissions that the final written warning was the appropriate outcome, and that the PAT made no public law error in making that conclusion.
The legal team at Kingsley Napley acting for Supt. Williams comprised of Nick Wrightson (Partner), Nick De Mulder (Associate), Rosie Gibson (Associate) and Rory O’Donovan (Trainee).
Counsel was Gerry Boyle QC of Serjeants' Inn Chambers.
You can read coverage of the case in the BBC, the Guardian and the Evening Standard.
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