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Criminal Defence

Private Prosecutions

Raj Chada
Partner
Ruth Harris
Ruth Harris
Partner
Caroline Liggins
Caroline Liggins
Partner
Chloe Hartnell
Chloe Hartnell
Partner
Darrell Ennis-Gayle
Darrell Ennis-Gayle
Partner
Graeme Hydari
Graeme Hydari
Partner
Jessica Davis
Partner
Kerry Spence
Kerry Spence
Partner
Laura O'Brien
Laura O’Brien
Partner
Mike Schwarz
Mike Schwarz
Partner
Sean Caulfield
Sean Caulfield
Partner
Abbi Hart
Abbi Hart
Trainee
Amy Coulter
Amy Coulter
Trainee
Aneka Thirurajah
Aneka Thirurajah
Associate
Anna Williams
Anna Williams
Paralegal
Cally Gormally
Solicitor
Charlotte Gamble
Charlotte Gamble
Paralegal
Donjeta Canolli
Donjeta Canolli
Paralegal
Earnestina Rajaratnam
Earnestina Rajaratnam
Paralegal
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Ella Ferriter
Paralegal
Ellie Horan
Ellie Horan
Paralegal
Emily McNally
Emily McNally
Solicitor
Francesca Cociani
Francesca Cociani
Associate
George Steel
George Steel
Solicitor
Ghislaine Sandoval
Ghislaine Sandoval
Solicitor
Izzie Bond-Mills
Izzie Bond-Mills
Paralegal
Jessica Atkinson
Jessica Atkinson
Solicitor
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Jessica Murray
Solicitor
Justin Stuart-Mills
Consultant Solicitor
Katie McFadden
Katie McFadden
Associate
Katy O'Mara
Katy o’Mara
Associate
Kiran Mehta
Kiran Mehta
Consultant
Kit Gamble
Kit Gamble
Paralegal
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Lara Ideo
Solicitor
Lauren Shore
Lauren Shore
Paralegal
Lucy Fegan-Earl
Lucy Fegan-Earl
Paralegal
Marina Afzal-Khan
Marina Afzal-Khan
Paralegal
Maxine Barker
Maxine Barker
Associate
May Spencer
May Spencer
Paralegal
Michael Ackah
Associate
Rebecca Field
Rebecca Field
Solicitor
Shelby Keppel
Shelby Keppel
Consultant
Shivani Mehta
Trainee
Shyan MacTavish_Website
Shyan MacTavish
Solicitor
Somaya Yassine_Website
Somaya Yassine
Paralegal
Viviane Bablin
Viviane Bablin
Solicitor

Any ordinary individual or company can bring a private prosecution against another individual or company under section 6 the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.

If you feel a crime has been committed and appropriate action hasn’t been taken by the authorities to bring that person or company to justice, you have the power to do so through the criminal courts.

A private prosecution can be brought against any offence committed, including financial offences, assaults and sexual offences. As well as acting for private prosecutions, we’ve extensive experience in defending these cases as well.

Hodge Jones & Allen_Chambers 2023_pngOur Crime team have been ranked in the Chambers & Partners 2024 legal directory. The team was described as “extremely strong in terms of criminal defence and particularly protest cases” and were praised for their “dedication to clients”.

Legal 500 uk-top-tier-firm-202“Hodge Jones & Allen are possibly the best firm of criminal solicitors conducting publicly funded work, and also offer an excellent service to privately funded clients. They have a large team that has continually prospered through recruiting excellent trainees and investing in people.” – Legal 500, 2024

Criminal prosecution

Thousands of criminal prosecutions begin everyday throughout England and Wales. It’s customary for these prosecutions to be brought by the Crown Prosecution Service or other state authorities. Other State prosecutors include the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), amongst many other organisations.

We have a team of expert lawyers who specialise in private prosecutions. We can assist you in seeking justice for crimes committed where other prosecuting authorities will not.

"A firm dedicated to the old-fashioned virtue of conscientious hard work in pursuit of their clients’ interests." Legal 500 – Ranked as Tier 1 (Crime), Independent Legal Directory

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Why choose Hodge Jones & Allen?

Highly experienced

Experienced criminal litigators who are experts in evidence and procedure. Innovative lawyers that fight for justice on your behalf and have decades of experience in the Criminal Justice System.

Our top ranking team has years of experience representing the innocent. We stand up to the prosecution who will always be represented by an experienced solicitor or barrister. We know how to fight and win cases.

Experts suited to your needs

We work with our renowned Civil Liberties & Human Rights Solicitors. Our highly capable solicitors are capable of scrutinising police and prosecutor’s decisions, including judicial review and human rights challenges.

Lawyers who care

Strategic overview from the start. We help collect evidence, advise on further material and consider what further investigation is required.

We will represent you at the Police Station or in Court. If you need urgent representation call us today. All we need is a few details from you and we’ll let you know how we can help.

Contact our specialist team on
0330 822 3451
or request a call back.
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Featured cases

Featured Case

Issued a summons against two multinational arms companies who had infringed UK Regulations on the promotion of torture equipment at the DESI arms fair at the Excel centre.

Featured Case

Instructed to review potential private prosecutions against individuals in the banking sector, as a result of activities during the financial crash.

Featured Case

Instructed to review private prosecution on behalf of victim of historic sex allegation.

Featured Case

Defended a £1.6 million fraud on behalf of an individual in relation to a private prosecution brought by Amazon which was eventually dropped.

"THANK YOU FOR ALL THE COMMITMENT AND INTEREST YOU HAVE SHOWN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS CASE AND THE WAY YOU HANDLED IT WITH EMPATHY AND PROFESSIONALISM."

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Featured Cases

Private Prosecution

Issued a summons against two multinational arms companies who had infringed UK Regulations on the promotion of torture equipment at the DESI arms fair at the Excel centre.

Private Prosecution

Instructed to review potential private prosecutions against individuals in the banking sector, as a result of activities during the financial crash.

Private Prosecution

Instructed to review private prosecution on behalf of victim of historic sex allegation.

Private Prosecution

Defended a £1.6 million fraud on behalf of an individual in relation to a private prosecution brought by Amazon which was eventually dropped.

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Frequently asked questions

Is there anything else I can do when considering a private prosecution?

If you’ve reported the matter to the police or an investigatory body and they’ve  told you they don’t intend to pursue your investigation, you then have the right to have the decision reviewed usually by a more senior investigator.

If is am successful in the private prosecution what will happen?

The court on conviction will proceed to punish and sentence the person convicted, in the same way they would if the state had prosecuted them. However, if you were contemplating a civil claim, then a criminal conviction would assist in that.

Are there any additional Costs implications?

Your costs for bringing a private prosecution are usually recoverable from central funds. However, this may not cover the total amount of the expenses you incur during proceedings. The Court will reimburse you for an amount they deem reasonable to compensate you. You should be aware that if the Court considers you’ve incurred costs through an act (or omission) which was unnecessary or improper, it can refuse to compensate you entirely for expenses. Further, you may be ordered to pay the Defendant for any costs they incur as a result of this misconduct. As such, it’s important  that a prosecution should be driven by what’s  objectively just and not for selfish interests.

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"The case was quickly allocated and every email was swiftly responded to and the Solicitor's passion for supporting women who have experienced abuse was refreshing- I have been recommending this firm since!"

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