By Kevin Donoghue, solicitor It is often said that when America sneezes, Britain catches a cold. Well, if that’s true, a recent development in San Francisco might have us all reaching for the tissue box. As this story in Wired describes, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently gave the police “the right to kill… Read more »
Why I Made Daniel Fitzsimmons a Director of Donoghue Solicitors
By Kevin Donoghue, solicitor I am thrilled to announce that my long-time colleague, Daniel Fitzsimmons, has accepted my invitation to become a director of our firm, Donoghue Solicitors Ltd. His appointment was approved and recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as an “SRA-approved manager – Director” at the firm. (Read Daniel’s official listing here.) This… Read more »
How Lax Police Recruiting Puts the Public at Risk
By Kevin Donoghue, solicitor Stories involving the police, politics, and public opinion often overlap. It happened again recently. The first news item is this: At this year’s Police Federation annual conference Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that approximately 8,900 special constables (who despite their title of “constable” are actually unpaid, amateur volunteers) will be authorised… Read more »
How Police Officers Groom People for Sexual Abuse
By Kevin Donoghue, solicitor This week my client, Samantha McTavish, bravely went public with her story. (She has authorised me to use her details here.) On BBC Newsnight Sam explained how a Devon & Cornwall Police sergeant groomed her for sex. How did he do it? Here, I describe the issues, show how this… Read more »
How Special Constables Can Take a Stand on Tasers
Should Special Constables refuse Tasers? Read why Kevin Donoghue thinks so, and what these volunteers can do, in this blog post. By Kevin Donoghue, solicitor Today Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that Special Constables will be authorised to use Tasers. This move potentially puts these so-called “less lethal” weapons in the hands of another (approximately)… Read more »
Three Reasons Why International Women’s Day Matters
By Kemmi Alfa, Chartered Legal Executive Today is International Women’s Day. This annual event was started in 1911 and is supported by over a million people. It is: a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This years’… Read more »
Sussex Police: You’ve Been Played
By Kevin Donoghue, solicitor Recently I wrote about how DCI James Mason effectively handled the investigation into his proven misconduct to avoid getting the sack from his high-profile job in the Metropolitan Police. His tactics included: giving written statements only to avoid saying anything incriminating in an oral interview denying allegations and contradicting witness evidence… Read more »
Why I was wrong about Dame Cressida Dick
By Kevin Donoghue, solicitor Almost five years ago, when Dame Cressida Dick was appointed to her role as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, I asked if she would uphold Peel’s 9 Principles of Policing. The guidelines, which Sir Robert Peel introduced when founding the Met, still apply today – they are the foundation for the… Read more »
A Fate Worse Than Dismissal for the Metropolitan Police?
By Kevin Donoghue, Solicitor Earlier this week I wrote about why my client Kristina O’Connor bravely chose to waive her right to anonymity. In the blog post Why Kristina O’Connor Went Public in Her Cases Against the Police I described: Metropolitan Police Officer DCI James Mason’s proven gross misconduct the consequences for this senior… Read more »
Why Kristina O’Connor Went Public in Her Cases Against the Police
By Kevin Donoghue, solicitor This weekend my client Kristina O’Connor appeared in news reports including: the front page of The Sunday Times The Guardian The Mirror and many others. I represent Kristina in a civil action against the Metropolitan Police. Throughout the case we have carefully preserved her anonymity. She recently changed her mind and… Read more »