Criminal   Regulatory   Inquests   Licensing   Civil Liberties & Human Rights

Criminal Law

Steven has a busy defence practice, covering a wide range of cases in the Crown Court and Magistrates’ court including serious violence; robbery; burglary; drug offences; sexual offences; and Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) proceedings.

Police Misconduct

Steven is frequently instructed to advise on all aspects of Police Misconduct. He regularly presents cases for Police Authorities; and represents Police Officers at Misconduct Hearings, Police Appeal Tribunals, and in Judicial Review proceedings.

Steven is frequently instructed to represent Police Officers at the outset of the misconduct process. His early advice regularly results in the severity of the misconduct being re-assessed and downgraded. In addition, Steven has represented student officers at Regulation 13 hearings.

Steven’s experiences include advising Police Authorities and Police Officers on the legality of the evidence gathering processes employed by Police Professional Standards Departments (PSD) and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Inquests

Steven receives regular instructions to represent bereaved families at Inquests, particularly deaths within the Prison estate.  Steven has also represented a variety of interested parties, including private health care providers and NHS staff associations.

Licensing

Steven appears at the Crown Court in firearms licensing cases. He is instructed by individuals appealing Police Authority decisions and on behalf of Police Authorities. 

EDUCATION & AWARDS LLB (Hons) - Nottingham Trent University (1993 - 1996) Distinction - GDL Northumbria University (2016) Outstanding - BPTC (2017) Grays Inn Prince of Wales Scholarship Northumbria University Deans Award Northumbria University Best Advocate Prize on the BPTC ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Steven is a member of the Criminal Bar Association, the Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL), and the North-Eastern Circuit.

Prior to being called to the Bar, Steven worked for the police up to, and including the rank of Superintendent. Working predominately in the CID, Steven’s experiences included leading overt and covert major crime investigations and being appointed an ‘Authorising Officer’ under RIPA, where he authorised and reviewed a range of covert police operations.

Prior to joining the police, Steven played rugby professionally for Edinburgh and Bath.

Steven is able to receive instructions direct from the public or businesses through the Bar’s public access scheme.

Expertise Criminal

 

Regulatory

 

Inquests

 

Licensing

 

Civil Liberties & Human Rights

 

 

Prior to being called to the Bar, Steven worked for the police up to, and including the rank of Superintendent. Working predominately in the CID, Steven’s experiences included:• Senior Investigation Officer of overt and covert investigations including: murders; kidnaps; importation of drugs; money laundering; and serious sexual offences.  • Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) representative on multi-agency working group, tasked with the implementation of disclosure into Scottish   criminal law.• Subject lecturer on the role of DNA in intelligence-led investigations and disclosure in major crime investigations, on the Scottish Police Homicide & Major Crime   Course.• Appointed an ‘Authorising Officer’ under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) where he authorised and reviewed a range of covert police    operations.• Commander of the West Midlands Police Economic Crime Unit and Midlands Regional Asset Recovery Team.  After leaving the police, Steven worked exclusively for defence Advocates and Barristers advising on the police’s evidence gathering processes, specifically in   relation to compliance with the RIPA.  Prior to joining the police, Steven played rugby professionally for Edinburgh and Bath.

Steven remains actively involved with Northumbria University as a mentor to students on the BPTC.

Grays Inn Prince of Wales Scholarship• Northumbria University Deans Award• Northumbria University Highest Mark in Further Area of Law on the GDL for dissertation on “Disclosure and the role of Special Advocates in criminal proceedings”.  • Northumbria University Best Advocate Prize on the BPTCLLB (Hons) - Nottingham Trent University (1993 - 1996) • Distinction - GDL Northumbria University (2016) • Outstanding - BPTC (2017)