Local Authority

St Pauls Chambers is frequently instructed by Local Authorities to undertake work in a range of areas. Departments within local authorities commonly associated with criminal prosecutions include environmental offences, education, trading standards, food safety offences and health and safety breaches.  A local authority will often work closely with another regulatory body in investigating and prosecuting an offence.

St Pauls Chambers has built up close working relationships with local authorities both regionally and nationally.

Members of Chambers have prosecuted hundreds of cases brought by Local Authorities across the country. We have particular expertise in Health and Safety prosecutions.

Sam Green QC recently concluded two matters for Leeds City Council:

• R v Orchard Care Homes.com Limited

Prosecution of company following elderly woman falling from inadequately secured second floor window of a care home in Wakefield. Breach of section 3 HSWA 1974. Company fined £680,000.

• R v Restaurant Bar and Grill Limited

Prosecution of owner of fashionable Leeds bar and restaurant arising from a kitchen worker sustaining severe injury to foot after falling into scalding hot cooking oil in a deep fat fryer. Breach of section 2 HSWA 1974. Company fined £46,000.

Alun Jones has represented Bradford Council on numerous occasions:

• Bradford Council v SH

Represented Bradford Council who commenced a prosecution against SH in respect of frauds he had perpetrated against the Council and also members of his own family. SH kept Direct Care Payments provided by the Council to ensure SH’s mother and brother could receive professional care. Instead of using the money to employ professional care providers, he kept the money and attempted to hide it in his bank accounts under false transaction references. SH also controlled and withheld welfare benefit payments made to his brother, mother and late father. The total value of the frauds was over £370,000.00. After a 6 week trial, SH was convicted and imprisoned. In confiscation proceedings brought by Bradford Council, a confiscation order in the sum of £462,515.81 was obtained. Compensation orders in favour of Bradford Council and SH’s mother and brother were also obtained.

• Doncaster Council v SB & SB

The Council prosecuted the Defendants for selling counterfeit handbags and possessing counterfeit handbags with a view to them being sold. Additionally, one of the Defendants was prosecuted for illegal street trading.  One of our Barristers was instructed to appear on behalf of the prosecution at sentence and in confiscation proceedings.  Both Defendants pleaded guilty and received non-custodial sentences.  In confiscation proceedings, the Council recovered £18,400 in confiscation and costs orders.

• R v KA & NK

A local authority prosecuted the Defendants, who were husband and wife in respect to numerous benefit fraud offences and money laundering offences.  One of the Defendants feigned mental illness and this delayed the trial for over 12 months as he constantly provided medical evidence from different doctors to suggest he was too unwell to attend court.  Once it was discovered that the Defendant was not mentally unwell, the prosecution secured his remand into custody to ensure progress would be made. On the morning of trial both Defendants pleaded guilty to multiple offences.  The offending totalled about £380,000.00.  Both Defendants received custodial sentences.

• Operation Zinder

Prosecuting a multiple defendant benefit fraud matter.  In addition to housing benefit fraud, there were numerous counts of money laundering concerning the purchase and transfer of multiple properties.  The remaining Defendants pleaded guilty on the day of trial.  The Defendant’s received custodial sentences.

Recently Jeremy Barnett and Alun Jones were against each other concerning the Dangerous Wild Animals Act licensing regime.