Professional Discipline
Leon provides advice to and represents police officers and HMRC officers in professional disciplinary matters.
Recent Instructions:
AA v PC K
The officer was accused of discreditable conduct, of a breach of the Data Protection Act and of acting in breach if the standards of confidentiality after sharing information about an arrest with a colleague, information that then reached the victim of the incident.
The Appropriate Authority had argued that dismissal was the only suitable outcome after a contested hearing. Having heard argument the Panel were persuaded – despite characterising the behaviour as gross misconduct- that the officer should receive a final written warning, thus remaining in employment.
MP v Q
The successful defence of a police detective accused of a series of allegations of gross misconduct: including allegations of dishonesty. All allegations of dishonesty were found to be groundless with a large proportion of the case against the accused officer being stayed for abuse of process.
Re: B
Advising an accountant [whose clients include household name celebrities] facing an investigation in respect of both tax advice given and the operation of a tax avoidance scheme.
Re: JS
Advising an officer of HMRC facing disciplinary proceedings brought for suspected evasion/non declaration of Stamp Duty Land Tax arising out of his operation of a business undeclared to his employer.