'Charlotte Ventham ... is recommended for her excellent judicial review practice and for her strong analytical skills.' Chambers and Partners 2011

Police law

Charlotte’s practice embraces all areas of police law including judicial review, inquests, licensing and civil actions for false imprisonment, assault, malicious prosecution, negligence and misfeasance.

Charlotte has particular expertise in police disciplinary matters and played a key role in developing and delivering NPIA-approved training to police forces on all aspects of the 2008 Conduct and Performance Regulations. She regularly represents police forces at misconduct hearings and in the Police Appeals Tribunal. Charlotte has considerable experience acting for both police forces and the IPCC in judicial review claims arising out of misconduct proceedings.

Charlotte also deals with employment and discrimination matters for the police and regularly advises on policy, procedure and operational issues.

Recent cases:

Inquest into the London Bombings of 7 July 2005: junior Counsel for City of London police in the inquests into the deaths of the 52 victims.

Benn v Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary [2010]: defended the Constabulary against claims of false imprisonment and breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998 in five day civil jury action.

R (on the application of Francis Boyle) v Haverhill Pub Watch [2009] EWHC 2441 (Admin): appeared on behalf of Suffolk Constabulary as an interested party in a case concerning the reviewability of a decision by a pub watch scheme to ban the Claimant from licensed premises. The Claimant argued that the pub watch should be subject to review by virtue, in part, of the role played by the police in its operation. As such the case had far-reaching implications for pub watch schemes across the country.

R (on the application of L) v Chief Constable of West Midlands Police (Admin): acted for the Chief Constable in a judicial review claim concerned with determining the position in law of an individual who has joined the police force but not yet been attested as a constable and, in particular, whether such a person should be regarded as a probationary constable under regulation 12 of the Police Regulations 2003 (such that he/she then falls to be dealt with under regulation 13).

Re police disciplinary proceedings: advised and represented a police force in relation to an officer who had allegedly engaged in inappropriate and compromising business/social arrangements with a number of covert human intelligence sources giving rise to sensitive issues of disclosure and public interest immunity.

Re (1) police powers and liabilities in respect of lost property, in particular items containing personal/sensitive data and/or images, (2) examination of mobile telephones of detainees: policy advice in relation to the above matters, disseminated to forces nationwide.

Re promotion procedures: advised a police force in relation to an appeal brought by a number of temporary sergeants who had been withdrawn from the promotion process. Involved consideration of the interplay between the promotion process set up pursuant to the Police (Promotions) Regulations 1996 and the misconduct procedures under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008.

Employment law

Charlotte regularly appears in Employment Tribunals on behalf of both Claimants and Respondents. She has considerable experience in cases involving discrimination (sex, race and disability), equal pay, maternity and parental leave, temporary workers, TUPE and unfair dismissal (including redundancy, misconduct and constructive dismissal).

Recent cases:

Robinson v Thames Valley Police Authority: acted for Respondent in claim for disability discrimination (successfully struck out), unfair dismissal and sex discrimination.

Gould v Kent Top Travel Ltd: acted for Respondent in TUPE/unfair dismissal claim in relation to a service provision change.

Bruce v Hertfordshire Police Authority: acted for Respondent in a disability discrimination claim brought by a member of police staff who suffered from dyslexia. The Claimant complained of a failure to make reasonable adjustments, harassment, disability-related discrimination and victimization.

Kumar v MES: acted for Respondent in race and disability discrimination claim in Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Stacey v BOC Group: acted for Claimant in claim for constructive unfair dismissal, direct and indirect sex discrimination and breach of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations 1999.

Personal injury

Charlotte has dealt with the whole range of personal injury claims from minor injuries to those involving substantial claims for future loss of earnings and care. She has particular experience of accident at work claims involving breaches of health and safety legislation.

Recent cases:

C v Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary: acted for the Defendant in claim for damages arising from chronic pain syndrome involving voluminous medical evidence and disputed expert opinion.

Wicks v Dorset Police Authority: personal injury claim arising out of an accident sustained by a police officer at work including claims for loss of congenial employment, loss of earnings and cost of treatment and care. Advised the Defendant in relation to disputed expert medical evidence and drafted counter-schedule of loss.

Sloan v 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust: advised Claimant on quantum of general and special damages following stabbing injuries sustained whilst working as a psychiatric healthcare assistant.

Lectures/training

Charlotte has provided extensive NPIA-approved training to police forces on all aspects of the 2008 Conduct and Performance Regulations and co-authored a detailed practical guide to the new misconduct processes. She addressed the Association of Police Lawyers' conference in May 2010 on "The 'Taylor' effect: An Update on the Taylor Misconduct Reforms".

Charlotte provides CPD lectures to solicitors on all aspects of her practice and recently spoke at the 5 Essex Court annual Police Law Conference on the subject of probationary police constables.

Education

Bar Vocational Course, ICSL (2000-2001)

CPE/Diploma in Law, City University (1999/2000)

MA Hons in French and Spanish, University of Edinburgh (1991-1995)

Millfield School (1988-1990)

Malvern Girls’ College (1984-1988)

Interests

Skiing, tennis