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Rebecca Griffiths (née Oakley)
- Phone029 2023 2032
- Email[email protected]
Position
Current Appointments
Disability Qualified Member, Social Entitlement TribunalList B Specialist Regulatory Advocate, Health and Safety and Environmental LawCriminal Law Panel B, Welsh GovernmentLevel 3 Prosecutor, Crown Prosecution ServiceRape Panel, Crown Prosecution Service
Practice Areas
General Crime, Disciplinary Law, Regulatory Law, Environmental Law and Animal Welfare.
General Crime and Disciplinary Law
Rebecca has extensive experience defending those charged with serious sexual, violent and other criminal offences, including representing professional clients and police officers in both criminal and internal disciplinary proceedings. She regularly prosecutes, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, the Department for Work and Pensions, many regulatory bodies and Local Authorities, the Welsh Government and the Probation Service. Rebecca is experienced in cases involving money laundering, benefit fraud and regulatory offences.
Notable cases:R v Davies, Davies, King and King:Prosecuting a conspiracy to employ illegal immigrants on behalf of the Complex Casework Unit of the Crown Prosecution Service.Junior in a number of complex cases, including Operation Texas (large-scale drugs conspiracy), Operation Evasive (environmental offences) and Operation Rhino (police misconduct).
Regulatory and Environmental Law and Animal Welfare
Rebecca has a special interest in the field of regulatory law, providing advocacy and advice across all the major disciplines. She is experienced in representing companies and individuals facing prosecution or regulatory proceedings and in prosecuting on behalf of various Local Authorities and a number of Government Departments and statutory bodies, including:
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs The Department for Trade and Industry The Health and Safety Executive The Environment Agency Natural Resources Wales The Food Standards AgencyRebecca understands the demands of prosecuting such cases and is sensitive to the importance of transparency, cost-effectiveness and public accountability, as well as ensuring that enforcement action complies with appropriate policies. Understanding that cases in this area require substantial collaboration within the prosecuting team, she ensures that clear advice and correspondence are provided promptly, carrying out regular reviews to ensure that cases progress effectively and that deadlines are met. Rebecca’s experience includes the following types of regulatory law:
Environmental:
Waste, including hazardous waste Pollution Statutory nuisance Variation, Information, Suspension, Prohibition, Stop and Enforcement Notices Environmental Permits and Waste Transfer Notices In preparation for the inauguration of Natural Resources Wales in April 2013, Rebecca was instructed to review several hundred pieces of primary and secondary legislation encompassing the full breadth of environmental law and to advise the Environment Agency Wales on the body’s forthcoming powers.Health and Safety:
Work-related deaths Personal liability Work-at-height Transport Machinery Small, medium and large organisations, including the self-employed, employers, directors and partnerships Improvement and Prohibition Notices Memoranda of UnderstandingTrading Standards:
Trade descriptions Trade marks Unfair trading regulations Safety regulations in sectors such as tobacco and cosmeticsAnimal Health:
Animal cruelty and unnecessary suffering Farmed animals Protected speciesFood Hygiene:
Food standards and safetyFraud:
Social Security, Council Tax and Housing Benefits Corporate fraud False accounting VAT evasion Tax fraudProceeds of crime and confiscation
Taxi and Hackney Carriage Licenes
Notable cases:R v Morganite Electrical Carbon Ltd:Prosecuting a work-related death on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive.R v Nolan Recycling Ltd: Prosecuting a work-related death on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive.
Education
Bar Vocational Course, Cardiff Law School, 2004-2005: Graded ‘Outstanding;’ Angel Chambers Award for Criminal Practice;Cardiff University & Universite de Toulouse, 1999-2003: 2:1, LLB Hons Law and French; Distinction in Oral Proficiency.