Harpreet has an established and nationally-recognised practice in representing serving police officers in misconduct proceedings, before the Police Appeals Tribunal and in the criminal courts. His expertise in this area is acknowledge by Chambers UK and the Legal 500 where he is described as, “A police defence expert”.
His practice extends to the representation of a wide array of professionals facing disciplinary proceedings.
Languages
Punjabi (fluent).
Recommendations
"Harpreet is a real talent. He is a very smooth advocate."
Chambers UK 2023
"Harpreet has exceptional communication skills with clients and fellow professionals. He is a well-deserved silk.” "Harpreet is always well prepared both in relation to the legal and factual issues each case presents. He commands respect in court from both the judge and opponent barrister. Clients are always complimentary and feel confident that they are obtaining the best representation."
Legal 500 2023
“Harpreet Singh Sandhu has expertise in heavyweight criminal cases such as those involving rape and murder. He is a Grade 4 CPS prosecutor and has experience handling multi-handed matters. He also has expertise in dealing with drugs conspiracies and violent offences. He is noted for his sensitive handling of vulnerable defendants.”
Chambers UK 2022
“Able to turn even the most complex line of cross-examination into simple, yet devastating, questions. Quite simply excellent.” “He has a court manner that both judges and juries adore. His advocacy skills are based upon meticulous preparation which commands respect.”
Legal 500 2022
“He is a polished advocate and people have a lot of confidence in him.” “He is a class act and has a calmness and authority beyond his years.”
Chambers UK 2021
“Thorough, approachable and efficient, with good client care.” “Harpreet Sandhu is the key figure at No5 Barristers’ Chambers for professional disciplinary work, with a particular focus on representing officers in police misconduct proceedings.”
Legal 500 2021
“He’s always thoroughly prepared, and is very good at advising his clients on how they can best prepare themselves for the trial or sentencing hearing they are about to face.”
Chambers UK 2020
“Recent work includes terrorism, fraud and serious violent crime cases.” “A great all-round persuasive advocate.” “… notable for... expertise in police discipline.”
Legal 500 2020
Notable Cases
MISCONDUCT PROCEEDINGS:
Re: PC G
Harpreet represented a constable who was alleged to have breached data protection policies by accessing sensitive information. The officer retained his position within the force
Re: PC C
Harpreet represented a constable who appeared at a misconduct hearing following an investigation by the IOPC. It was alleged that the accused officer had engaged in operational dishonesty on two separate occasions. The allegations the officer faced were dismissed following a contested eight-day hearing.
Re: PC N
Harpreet represented a constable who appeared at a misconduct hearing following an investigation by the IOPC. It was alleged that the accused officer had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour through his unreasonable, unnecessary and disproportionate use of force. All allegations were dismissed following a successful submission at the close of the appropriate authority’s case.
Re: PC W
Harpreet represented a serving police officer whose breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour, including that relating to honesty and integrity, was found to amount to gross misconduct. In this rare case, however, the officer was not dismissed from his role.
Re: PC F
Harpreet represented a serving officer who was alleged to have formed inappropriate relationships with several women who were considerably younger than him and whom he had met whilst he was on duty. Harpreet’s client retained his position within the force following a contested misconduct hearing.
Re PC M
Harpreet represented a police officer whose off-duty conduct, which was said to include assaulting a civilian whilst off-duty, was alleged to amount to gross misconduct. Following a contested misconduct hearing, the officer’s actions were found to amount to misconduct only and the officer retained her position within the force.
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.
Re: PC H
Harpreet appeared for a serving officer who was alleged to have assaulted a civilian whilst on duty. The officer retained his position within the force.
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS:
R v C (Birmingham Crown Court)
Harpreet defended a serving police officer who was tried and re-tried upon allegations of historical sexual abuse (which were said to have occurred in the early 1980s) against several complainants. The defendant was acquitted of all counts.
R v Walters (Stafford Crown Court)
Harpreet represented a serving police officer who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two women whilst on duty. In light of the defendant’s pleas, the prosecution elected not to try him on a count of misconduct in public office. This case received widespread media attention.
R v VD (Stafford Crown Court)
Harpreet represented a former police officer who pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. This case received extensive media coverage.
R v Christopher Cambray (Misconduct/Birmingham Crown Court)
Harpreet was instructed to represent in misconduct proceedings a police sergeant whose livelihood was in jeopardy as a result of allegations that he had committed child sex offences. Harpreet continued to represent Mr Cambray in the Crown Court when he pleaded guilty to a selection of those offences.
R v D (Stafford Crown Court)
Harpreet represented a serving police officer who faced two allegations of rape and one of assault. He was acquitted.
R v Abell (Nottingham Crown Court)
Harpreet represented a police officer who pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office after sending sexually inappropriate messages to a woman who had been a witness in criminal proceedings. Harpreet’s client received a suspended sentence of imprisonment.
R v Watts (Stafford Crown Court)
Harpreet defended a detective constable who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. Harpreet’s client had accessed police computer systems for information which was then passed to his co-accused who was also convicted with others (in concurrent proceedings) of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. This case attracted much media attention.
R v RY (Stafford Crown Court)
Harpreet represented a serving police officer charged with perverting the course of public justice. A successful application to dismiss resulted in an end to the 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.
R v P
Defence counsel for a sergeant who was acquitted after trial of harassing a fellow police officer.
Appointments
Bencher (Gray’s Inn).
Memberships
Gray’s Inn;
Midland Circuit;
Criminal Bar Association;
Health and Safety Lawyers’ Association.
Qualifications
BA (Hons) (Dunelm) [English Literature];
Dip Law (City);
BVC (Inns of Court School of Law) [Recipient of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences Prize];
Prince of Wales Scholar (Gray’s Inn).
