My experience as an expert witness includes providing opinion in excess of 180 cases. These cases are distributed between England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man. My main area of work is concerning police custody.
My experience involves custody sectors of police, prison, mental health, immigration, security staff and the children’s sector. (Custody commences from the point of initial contact & arrest) I have provided my services for a public inquiry, coroner cases, 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 Ombudsman agencies and the Crown Office. I am registered with, and vetted by, the National Crime Agency (NCA) for police custody topics.
My main areas of service concern:
Death or serious injury during restraints.
Ligature deaths.
Police arrest and police custody centre procedures.
I have (at January 2023) been engaged for 13 ligature deaths in custody, and 8 deaths during restraints. I have been engaged by the Public Inquiry into the restraint death of Mr Sheku Bayoh, with Police Scotland. I gave evidence over 3 days and my report can be viewed on the Inquiry website:
https://www.shekubayohinquiry.scot/node/545
I have received national training awards for my design and delivery of custody, and police topics. In 2012 I received the British Association of Women in Policing, Excellence in Policing, Award from Dame Cressida Dick. I have conducted in excess of 1000 MGDD/A intoxilyser procedures for drink/drug drive offences, and was an intoxilyser machine trainer.
