John de Bono KC

Call 1995 | Silk 2014

John de Bono KC | Call 1995 | Silk 2014

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Overview

John de Bono is well known in police law for his work in disciplinary tribunals and judicial review. Chambers & Partners describes him as “an incredibly gutsy fighter, and a great strategist” and notes that he “remains a respected expert and an increasingly renowned name in police disciplinary proceedings and judicial review matters”. He is in demand both to present complex cases, particularly those involving allegations of corruption, and to advise misconduct panels and Chief Constables on review.

Police

“John de Bono is singled out for the speed of his responses to clients and his concise, no-nonsense approach.”
Chambers & Partners

John instructed for the police in Gorton v. Chief Constable Merseyside Police, an important case concerning the operation of service confidence policies.
Read John’s note on the judgment here.

Experience and Expertise

John presents complex misconduct hearings, often involving allegations of corruption, and acts for police forces in judicial reviews, particularly those relating to corruption and other misconduct.

He is consistently recommended by Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 as a leading silk for police law.

Illustrative examples of John’s police law work include:

  • R (Woods and Gorton) v. Chief Constable of Merseyside Police [2014] EWHC 2784 (Admin)
    Successfully defended challenge by officers to a police force’s service confidence policy.
  • R (Aru) v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police CA [2004] 1 WLR 1697
    Whether the Human Rights Act entitled a claimant who challenged a caution by way of judicial review to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
  • Advice to a police force at short notice concerning injunctive relief to prevent destruction of evidence by a third party which might be required by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
  • Police Appeal Tribunal: The appeal of two officers dismissed after a lengthy corruption investigation involving the exchange of confessions to auto crime for sex and drugs. This case attracted substantial press coverage.
  • Misconduct hearing: Corruption case involving officer accused of diverting high-value counterfeit cigarettes, previously confiscated by Trading Standards, back to criminals.
  • Misconduct hearing: Officer accused of blackmailing and raping a drug addict and prolific shoplifter whom he was supposed to be rehabilitating.
  • Misconduct hearing: Officer accused of corruption and being part of a gang which diverted confiscated cannabis back to drug suppliers.
  • Misconduct hearing: Officer was dismissed for gross misconduct having used force computers to research criminality within her extended family.  Extensive local media coverage.
  • Misconduct hearing: Officer accused of sexual assaults on members of the public and colleagues.

recommendations

“Has a particular focus on police misconduct hearings, especially allegations of police corruption.
He has a no-nonsense style, is approachable and tells it like it is.”
Chambers & Partners 

“Strong on disciplinary tribunals and judicial reviews, and has a niche practice in handling cases involving corruption… He’s well prepared, is very efficient and has good judgement.”
Chambers & Partners

“He is well-known for his work in disciplinary tribunals and judicial reviews and has also developed a niche practice in handling cases involving corruption. His recent work includes acting for Merseyside Police in a case involving an officer accused of diverting high-value counterfeit cigarettes.”
Chambers & Partners 

Academic

John has a First in Philosophy and Theology from Oriel College, Oxford, graduating in 1993. He took a Law Conversion Course at De Montfort University where he was placed first in his year in 1994. He read for the Bar Finals at the ICSL in London and won a scholarship from Gray’s Inn.