England and Wales Case Law

The General Dental Council v Nabeel Aga

A direction for substantive suspension and an order for immediate suspension under the Dentists Act 1984 are distinct and sequential; the period served under an immediate suspension order is not to be deducted from the substantive suspension period. The judge below erred in law by treating the two periods as one continuous suspension. The statutory language and scheme require that the substantive suspension starts when the direction takes effect, not when the immediate suspension order is made.

Source excerpt

• Statutory interpretation
• Professional misconduct
• Fitness to practise
• Disciplinary sanctions
• Suspension orders

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Wareing v Bar Standards Board

Wareing v Bar Standards Board [2024] EWHC 2946 (Admin) (20 November 2024)

The High Court dismissed a barrister’s appeal against disbarment for misconduct during suspension, upholding findings on dishonesty-adjacent conduct, public confidence, and interim suspension.

• Barrister misconduct
• Disciplinary sanctions
• Right of audience
• Suspension and disbarment
• Procedural fairness
• Barrister-discipline

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Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, R (On the Application Of) v Police Misconduct Panel

Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, R (On the Application Of) v Police Misconduct Panel [2024] EWHC 2796 (Admin) (04 November 2024)

The High Court quashed a police misconduct panel’s sanction decision for inadequate reasons, sending the matter back for reconsideration of sanction.

• Police misconduct
• Disciplinary sanctions
• Judicial review
• Racism and discrimination
• Professional standards
• Judicial-review

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The Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police v A Police Misconduct Panel

The panel's findings of fact and conclusion of gross misconduct stand, but there were material errors in the panel's reasoning regarding the seriousness of harm, the change in standards, and the sufficiency of reasons for sanction. The outcome is finely balanced and, due to these errors, the case must be remitted for reconsideration of sanction by a differently constituted panel.

Source excerpt

• Police misconduct
• Gross misconduct
• Disciplinary sanctions
• Judicial review
• Public confidence
• Standards of professional behaviour

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THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE OF THE METROPOLIS (R on the application of) v POLICE APPEALS TRIBUNAL

The High Court dismissed a judicial review challenge to a Police Appeals Tribunal decision imposing a final written warning instead of dismissal for a superintendent’s misconduct.

• Judicial review
• Disciplinary sanctions
• Gross misconduct
• Public confidence
• Personal mitigation
• Structured approach

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Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, R (On the Application Of) v Police Appeals Tribunal

Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, R (On the Application Of) v Police Appeals Tribunal [2022] EWHC 1951 (Admin) (26 July 2022)

Judicial review of a Police Appeals Tribunal sanction decision. The High Court upheld a final written warning for a convicted superintendent and dismissed the Commissioner’s challenge.

• Police misconduct
• Disciplinary sanctions
• Judicial review
• Gross misconduct
• Public confidence
• Personal mitigation

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WAHID NAZARI v SOLICITORS REGULATION AUTHORITY

The High Court dismissed a solicitor’s appeal against strike-off for repeated blue badge misuse, upholding findings of dishonesty and no procedural unfairness.

• Solicitors regulation
• Dishonesty
• Disciplinary sanctions
• Procedural fairness
• Legitimate expectation
• Adjournment applications

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Nazari v Solicitors Regulation Authority

Nazari v Solicitors Regulation Authority [2022] EWHC 1574 (Admin) (21 June 2022)

High Court dismissed a solicitor’s appeal against strike-off for repeated Blue Badge misuse, upholding findings of dishonesty, refusal of an adjournment, and no legitimate expectation.

• Solicitors regulation
• Dishonesty
• Disciplinary sanctions
• Procedural fairness
• Legitimate expectation
• Solicitors-discipline

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Thomas v The Education Workforce Council

Thomas v The Education Workforce Council [2021] EWHC 2774 (Admin) (18 October 2021)

The High Court dismissed a teacher’s appeal against a reprimand for an offensive email, holding the regulator acted fairly and the sanction was proportionate.

• Unacceptable professional conduct
• Disciplinary sanctions
• Procedural fairness
• Proportionality of sanction
• Right to fair hearing
• Administrative-law

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Hewson v Bar Standards Board

The Administrative Court set aside a consent order and reduced Barbara Hewson’s suspension from two years to one year after admitting fresh evidence of terminal illness.

• Disciplinary sanctions
• Appeals procedure
• Mitigation
• Fresh evidence
• Professional-discipline
• Disciplinary-sanctions

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