Three Raymond Buildings

A specialist in professional discipline cases, inquests, criminal work, and regulatory law.

Ailsa represents police officers at gross misconduct hearings throughout the country and has a detailed knowledge of Officer Safety Training, Pursuit Policies, RIPA and PACE. She has recently represented officers facing allegations in relation to contact with moped riders, supervision in custody suites, force used during arrests (including tasers) and inappropriate relationships. She regularly appears at Police Appeals Tribunals and in judicial reviews arising from misconduct proceedings.

Ailsa is a specialist in inquests into deaths in police custody or following police pursuits having been involved in a number of high-profile inquests. Her extensive experience means she is well placed to advise clients throughout the entire inquest process from identifying relevant evidence, issues that may arise when witnesses give evidence, potential conclusions at the inquest and considerations for Preventing Future Deaths Reports.

Her criminal practice encompasses serious violent or sexual offences, organized crime and fraud. She predominantly defends and is very experienced in questioning vulnerable witnesses. This year she has represented a police officer charged with membership of a proscribed right-wing organisation, a police officer charged with perverting the course of justice and the first police officer to be charged with murder whilst on duty.

Ailsa prosecutes for the Fire Authority, undertakes health and safety cases and is experienced in taxi / PHV licensing cases.

Called to the Bar 1997

Criminal Bar Association; Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers; CBA Working Party on the draft Corruption Bill (2003).

MA (Cantab) History; Dip Law (City)