Gerard Boyle KC

Police

experience & expertise

Gerry has specialised in police law for many years. He covers all aspects of police work, and is highly regarded in the field. He has been involved in a number of high profile police disciplinary cases, particularly for the Metropolitan Police. He acted for Gloucestershire Police in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

cases & work of note

• The Undercover Policing Inquiry [2023]
  Gerry is retained by the National Police Chiefs Council to act on its behalf in the Undercover Police Inquiry. This is and will remain a high profile public inquiry involving an enormous amount of material spanning a number of decades concerning the deployment of undercover officers and the lawfulness of their activities. The Inquiry is examining the contribution undercover policing made to tackling crime, how it was and is supervised and regulated, and its effect on the individuals involved.
• IOPC Investigations [2023]
  Gerry is currently retained by the Independent Office for Police Conduct in a number of ongoing investigations concerned with deaths following the use of force by a number of Police forces, including use of firearms, restraint, PAVA spray, and vehicular pursuit.
• Chelsea Bridge Fatality [2023]
  Gerry is retained on behalf of the IOPC in relation to its ongoing investigation into the tragic death of a member of the public who was tasered on Chelsea Bridge by Metropolitan Police officers and fell to his death in the River Thames.
• Commissioner of Metropolitan Police and Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police v Officer A and Officer B [2023]
  Gerry is acting on behalf of both Thames Valley Police and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in ongoing Police Misconduct proceedings against an officer accused of sexual assault, a colleague accused of failing to act, and allegations of inappropriate exchanges on the WhatsApp platform.
• Police Misconduct
  Gerry regularly acts in the most high profile, sensitive and complex Police Misconduct cases, on behalf of Appropriate Authorities and accused officers, at all levels of seniority. He is regularly retained to advise the IOPC in relation to its misconduct investigations. For further details please see his Professional Discipline & Regulatory Profile.
• Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse [IICSA]
  Gerry acted on behalf of the IOPC in both the Lambeth and Lord Janner QC strands of this public inquiry, having previously been involved in the Anglican Church strand of the Inquiry in 2018.
• Police & Crime Commissioner v Chief Constable Simon Byrne [2018]
  Gerry successfully defended Chief Constable Byrne who was accused of a career ending 74 allegations of breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour by allegedly bullying subordinate officers and staff said to amount to Gross Misconduct. Mr Byrne was acquitted of every allegation.
• Fishmongers’ Hall Inquest [2020-2021]
  Gerry was instructed on behalf of the police service in the Inquest touching upon the deaths of those killed in the terrorist attack at an event at Fishmonger’s Hall, London Bridge in November 2019.
• Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse [IICSA] [2018-2022]
  Gerry acted for the IOPC in both the Lambeth and Lord Janner KC strands of this public inquiry, having previously been involved in the Anglican Church strand of the Inquiry in 2018.
• Metropolitan Police Service v Supt Williams [2022]
  Gerry acted on behalf of Supt Williams who was dismissed from her role as a result of a criminal conviction. He successfully defended her reinstatement to the Met police at judicial review.
• Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police v Assistant Chief Constable Heywood [2018]
  ACC Heywood was under investigation in relation to allegations of gross misconduct arising out of evidence given by him to a public inquiry into the shooting of a Salford man. Gerry acted on behalf of GMP advising on aspects of the misconduct process.
• Operation Riga Gerry was retained to act on behalf of Warwickshire police in relation to gross misconduct allegations against a number of officers for engaging in sexual activity on police premises and whilst on duty.
• Operation Nori Gerry was retained by the IOPC to advise it in relation to its investigation spanning three decades of alleged police incompetence in investigating allegations of sexual abuse by the late Lord Janner KC.
• ACC X [2020]
  Gerry was retained to advise ACC X in relation to attempts by his home Force to compulsorily retire him from the police service in the unprecedented use of s40 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act.
• Police Pursuits
  Gerry is currently retained on behalf of the Metropolitan Police in relation to a number of Inquests and associated civil proceedings arising out of police pursuits, including pursuits concerning moped enabled crime.
• Thames Valley Police v Supt. Chiariello [2018]
  Gerry acted on behalf of TVP in multi-faceted misconduct proceedings against a Supt accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual relationships whilst on duty and, ultimately, inappropriate attempts via a third party to intimidate a female complainant. The officer was dismissed following a Special Case hearing presented by Gerry before the Chief Constable and Gerry successfully rebuffed an attempted appeal to the Police Appeals Tribunal.
• Metropolitan Police Service v Various officers [2018 -2019]
  Gerry  acted on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service in misconduct proceedings arising out of the death of Sean Rigg in August 2008. Gerry is leading James Berry from Chambers.
• Sussex Police v Deans-Cane [2017-2018]
  Gerry successfully represented the Chief Constable in judicial review proceedings in the High Court challenging a decision by a Police Appeals Tribunal to reinstate a former police officer who had been dismissed for Gross Misconduct. Subsequent to the Judicial Review, Gerry represented the Chief Constable at the re-convened gross Misconduct hearing at which the officer was dismissed without notice.
• KD v (1) Commissioner of Police; (2) PG [2017]
  KD issued proceedings against the Metropolitan Police Commissioner for damages suffered as a result of sexual assaults committed by the co-defendant PG. The claim against the Commissioner was based on the doctrine of vicarious liability (applying the Supreme Court decision in Catholic Welfare Society v Various [2012] UKS|C 56). Following receipt of Gerry’s Defence and correspondence based on Gerry’s advice, the Claimant’s solicitors withdrew the claim.
• Greber v Commissioner of Police [2017]
  Gerry advised the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police on the merits of a claim for assault and false imprisonment brought by a passenger subjected to a firearms challenge during a terrorist incident on a train. The claim was dismissed at trial.
• Joseph v Commissioner of Police [2017]
  The family of a man shot and killed during a firearms incident issued proceedings against the Commissioner for damages for alleged breaches of Article 2. Gerry settled the Defences to the various claims advanced and acted on the Commissioner’s behalf at the subsequent round table meeting.
• West Yorkshire Police v PC Jones [2017]
  Gerry successfully prosecuted a police officer in misconduct proceedings for sexually assaulting a female student. The officer had been acquitted of sexual assaults in the Crown Court. Gerry advised proceeding with the allegations before a Misconduct panel. Following a contested hearing at which the complainant, eye witnesses and the officer gave evidence, the officer was found guilty of sexually motivated touching and was dismissed.
• R (on the application of Delezuch) v The Chief Constable of Leicestershire, ACPO and the IPCC [2014] EWCA Civ 1635 – Court of Appeal
  Judicial Review in the Court of Appeal. Gerry successfully defended the Chief Constable in a public law challenge to force policy and the ability of police officers’ to confer following a fatal incident. The Case involved consideration of domestic and European jurisprudence, the interpretation of Article 2 and comparison with force policies in the USA and Canada.  Gerry acted alone, while all of the other parties were represented by leading QCs and juniors.
• Operation Elveden [2014-15] : Metropolitan Police v Detective Superintendent Rowell
  Presented the appropriate authority’s case against the most senior officer to face misconduct proceedings arising out of Operation Elveden (disclosure of sensitive police information to tabloid journalists). Following intense battles with his QC opponent over disclosure, admissibility of evidence, and expert evidence, Gerry successfully secured the officer’s dismissal from the force.
• Operation Elveden [2016]
  Following on from the success above Gerry was retained in an ongoing police misconduct investigation in to Thames Valley Police officers accused of disclosing confidential information to journalists.
• Metropolitan Police v PC Luke [2016]
  Gerry acted on behalf of the Commissioner in misconduct proceedings where the officer was alleged to have assaulted the mother of a patient at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The officer was acquitted in the Crown Court. The misconduct case is continuing.
• West Yorkshire Police v A N Officer
  The officer was acquitted In criminal proceedings of sexually assaulting a female in a nightclub. Gerry has successfully resisted an attempt to stay the misconduct proceedings as an abuse of process.
• Habib Ullah Deceased [2015]
  Misconduct proceedings Thames Valley – acted on behalf of the appropriate authority against 5 officers accused of editing their original accounts following the death of a man they had stopped and searched.
• Merseyside Police v PC S
  Successfully presented misconduct proceedings against an officer accused of predatory behaviour towards female victims of crime.
• Metropolitan Police v PC Patrick
  Advised and represented the Metropolitan Police in proceedings against an officer accused of breaching the standards of professional behaviour by publishing an online book and blogging in a derogatory fashion about policing practice.
• Commissioner of Police v DC Evelyn
  Gerry successfully presented the misconduct case against an officer accused of raping a vulnerable young woman inside a secure area at St Pancras International station.
• Commissioner of Police v PC Rice
  Gerry successfully presented the case against Alan Johnson MP’s former personal protection officer for having an inappropriate relationship with the then Home Secretary’s wife.
• Police Appeals Tribunal v Verrier
  Represented the Metropolitan Police before the PAT in an officer’s appeal against his dismissal under the Performance Regulations due to lengthy absence from work.
• Ollivierre v (1) Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police; (2) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2011] EWCA Civ 1733
  Gerry represented the Metropolitan Police Commissioner both at first instance and before the Court of Appeal in a successful defence of a civil claim the main issue being the reasonableness of the grounds for arrest following a brutal and notorious double rape and murder in Reading.
• R, (on the application of Takoushis) v HM Coroner for Inner North London [2005] EWCA Civ 1440, [2006] 1 WLR 461
  Gerry represented the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in this leading case concerning the application of Article 2 of the ECHR to inquests.

Recommendations

“Gerard has acted in some high-profile cases and has achieved outstanding results. His advice and tactical approach are very sound.”
Chambers & Partners

“Gerard is always a pleasure to work with. He is capable of digesting huge amounts of complicated information and his approach and manner really inspire confidence.”
Chambers & Partners

“Gerard is an extremely able and hardworking advocate. He has an ability to communicate clearly with even the most difficult of clients, provides realistic advice in a courteous but straightforward way. His advocacy is well-structured, eloquent and effective.”
The Legal 500

“His meticulous attention to detail is what makes clients feel confident. It is impossible to doubt his commitment.”
Chambers & Partners

“Gerry Boyle is an outstanding advocate. Always available to support and has never failed to deliver.”
Chambers & Partners

“He is strong across the board. Both his written and oral advocacy is top notch. He is plainly highly respected by both tribunals and police officers. Overall, he is excellent at this type of work.”
The Legal 500

“A really good, tough barrister, but one who is very approachable.”
Chambers & Partners 

“He is a natural advocate, and his submissions before the tribunal are impressive.”
Chambers & Partners 

“He is just brilliant. His way with clients is very good and he’s extremely patient.”
Chambers & Partners 

‘An exceptional advocate.’
The Legal 500

“He’s got excellent knowledge of police disciplinary procedures and is a good advocate.”
Chambers & Partners 

‘His ability to retain and recall information is incredible.’
The Legal 500

“A first-class advocate when dealing with issues of police misconduct. He has an exceptional eye for detail and is outstanding at handling the most complex of cases. He is a delight to work with, his instructions are crystal clear and he is to be highly recommended as an outstanding advocate.”
Chambers & Partners 

“He is very polished, articulate and charismatic, particularly within court. He is also measured, sensible and good at cutting through extraneous information.”
Chambers & Partners 

“Formidable counsel who gets to the nub of issues very quickly and succinctly.  He reads witnesses very clearly and is able to elicit information very quickly.”
Chambers & Partners

“A real presence in court, with a lovely manner about him. He is a very effective cross-examiner and is sensible, trustworthy and fair. All the things a good barrister should be.”
Chambers & Partners

‘He is passionate in his approach to a claim and will give it all to ensure a case is defended successfully.’
The Legal 500

“The one to instruct when robust advocacy is called for.”
The Legal 500

“At trial his advocacy has been first-class. I don’t think there’s anyone like him.”
Chambers & Partners

“He’s excellent. He’s good on paper and clients like him. He’s a very safe pair of hands, capable and bright.”

“…very good and very astute.”

“…very easy to use, good with clients and a good presence in court.”
Chambers & Partners

“…brings a forensic approach to cases and has an engaging style.”

“… has excellent client care skills, pays great attention to detail and is very knowledgeable …”
Chambers & Partners

‘A good tactician with excellent forensic analysis.’
The Legal 500

‘… puts clients and experts at ease with his grasp of issues and pleasant manner.’
The Legal 500

‘His expertise spans acting for medical, police and other professionals.’
The Legal 500

“A smooth operator and persuasive advocate”
Chambers & Partners