As an expert witness I have been engaged for more than 700 cases.

My main areas of work are:

• Deaths & serious injuries in police custody.
• Police procedures from point of incident dispatch until the person is charged.
• Use of force.
• Drink/drug driving procedures.
• Ligature deaths (all secure sector settings).

I have provided my services for public inquiry, coroner, fatal accident inquiries, civil, criminal and misconduct cases. I have been engaged by coroners and legal teams representing the defence and prosecution/claimant.

I have repeat business from the Police Federation, Police Professional Standards Departments, Police Ombudsman agencies and the Crown Office agencies.

I still provide training throughout the UK concerning Police procedures, drink/drug driving and ligature deaths.

I was a guest speaker at the September 2024 National Police Chiefs’ Council Custody Conference.

I was a guest speaker at the Independent Drug Expert Alliance (IDEA) 2025 CPD conference concerning drug intoxication and police custody.

• Defence: 50%
• Prosecuting authority/Claimant: 40%
• Engaged directly by the Coroner or Public Inquiry: 10%

I have completed the Expert Witness training with Bond Solon Legal Training in conjunction with Cardiff University Law School.

I was a police officer for 23.5 years which included performing as a custody sergeant for 7 years and then designing and delivering police custody training and custody policy. I was head of the specialist training team for Cumbria Police which included all police custody training, use of force and first aid training.

I have received national awards and recognition for designing police custody training for the 2006 Safer Detention & Handling of Persons in Police Custody. In 2008 and 2009 I was a National Training Awards winner concerning design and delivery of the original Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP).

The use of force should never be viewed purely as a technique, as a correctly applied technique does not evidence that the use of force was necessary, reasonable or proportionate Deaths in police custody may occur due to a combination of factors. I have been engaged for deaths in police custody where detainees have died in their cells.

Common errors have included:

• Severe intoxication not being recognised as a medical risk.
• Head injuries not being recognised as a medical risk.
• Withdrawals not being recognised as a medical emergency.
• Care plans and levels of observations not being correctly applied.
• Rousing procedures not being conducted correctly.

• Custody staff and HCPs not communicating effectively with each other.
• Custody records not being a reliable source of risk and care information.
• The HCPs not being brought to assess detainees for fitness to detain or review assessments.
• Staff too ready to assume a detainee is feigning illness.

I have been involved with Gross Misconduct and Manslaughter investigations concerning deaths in police custody