Harpreet Singh Sandhu - Police Law & Discipline

Harpreet is widely acknowledged to be one of the Midland Circuit’s most promising juniors. He is rated in the 2013 edition of Chambers and Partners as an “up-and-coming junior… who has won widespread acclaim from his peers and from market sources as a whole. "He is an extremely fluent advocate," notes one impressed barrister. Solicitors appreciate the fact that he is "fantastically thorough and very polished." Another market source said of him: "He is thoughtful in his approach to cases and reassuring with clients."”

Harpreet is one of select group of barristers who is specifically instructed on behalf of the Police Federation to represent its members across the country before the criminal courts, at inquests, at misconduct hearings and before the Police Appeals Tribunal. 

The representation of police officers is an area in which Harpreet excels as demonstrated by the chair of one misconduct panel in which Harpreet appeared who remarked, “Mr Sandhu is a star.” 

Harpreet undertakes work in all areas of the criminal law [please see Crime CV] and his recent cases have involved allegations of drugs offences, dishonesty, violence, fraud, firearms offences, homicide, road traffic offences and sexual offences.

QUALIFICATIONS

- BA (Hons) (Dunelm);
- Dip Law (City).

Harpreet read English Literature (and was elected St Aidan's College Junior Common President) at Durham University. He gained valuable commercial experience with a multinational consultancy firm before completing the Graduate Diploma in Law at the City University. Harpreet was awarded the British Academy of Forensic Sciences Prize as a result of his performance on Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law where he studied as a Prince of Wales Scholar of Gray’s Inn.

MEMBERSHIPS

- Gray’s Inn;
- Midland Circuit; 
- Criminal Bar Association.

APPOINTMENTS

- CPS Level 3 Prosecutor (Rape Panel);
- List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law;
- Sometime Visiting Lecturer, Birmingham University.

NOTABLE CASES

MISCONDUCT PROCEEDINGS:

Re PC B
Harpreet represented an officer charged with offences contrary to the Data Protection Act 1998 and against whom the prosecution offered no evidence in the Crown Court following the making of successful submissions in relation to disclosure. Harpreet continued to represent the officer during the lengthy misconduct proceedings which followed and secured the officer's continued service with the force.

Re PS K
Harpreet represented a sergeant who faced several grave allegations (including the repeated sexual assault of an officer under his supervision) and whose co-accused was represented by Queen's Counsel. Harpreet's client retained his position in the force following a four-day misconduct hearing.

Re PS S
Harpreet represented a sergeant who was alleged to have sexually assaulted and harassed an officer under his supervision. Harpreet's client retained his position within the force following a 5-day misconduct hearing.

Re PC R
Harpreet represented an officer accused of assaulting a civilian whilst on duty. The officer retained his position within the force.

Re PC C
Harpreet represented an officer accused of disclosing confidential information. Her actions were said to have required urgent rectification which cost the force and the local authority some £10,000. The officer retained her position within the force.

Re PC A
Harpreet represented an officer accused of having criminal associates and disclosing confidential information. The officer retained his position within the force.

Re PC L
Harpreet acted for an officer caught on CCTV exposing himself whilst off-duty. The officer retained his position within the force.

Re PC S
Harpreet represented successfully a serving West Midlands Police officer at the force's first contested misconduct hearing under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008. The officer retained her position within the force.

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS:

R v K (Birmingham Crown Court)
Instructed to represent an officer charged with perverting the course of public justice.

R v B (Birmingham Crown Court)
Defence counsel for a serving police officer who was charged with and acquitted after trial of doing a series of acts tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice.

v Wilks (Manchester Crown Court)
Junior defence counsel for a serving police officer charged with and acquitted of assisting her son, Ricardo Morrison, alongside whom she was tried and who was convicted of the murder of the model Amy Leigh Barnes.

R v P
Defence counsel for a sergeant who was acquitted after trial of harassing a fellow police officer.