Private Prosecution

Private prosecutions can be brought by any individual or company and they proceed in the same way as a prosecution brought by the Crown. Private prosecution is often quicker and more focussed.

Private prosecutions are suitable for individuals or companies who have been the victims of criminal acts committed against them by others where the prosecution authorities have failed or refused to act. Members of Chambers have a great deal of experience in mounting these cases and have close ties with solicitors’ firms that specialise in providing this bespoke form of prosecution, making the whole process easier and very effective.

The cost of pursuing prosecutions privately will depend on the volume of evidence, the level if investigative work required and the complexity of the issues within the case.

Choosing a private prosecution will allow you closer involvement and control over each decision made.

Our specialist criminal barristers are available to offer advice on:

• The prospects of success for your case
• Applying for and resisting the issue of a summons
• Applying to the Director of Public Prosecutions to take over and stop a prosecution.
• Costs recovery.

Notable Cases:

• R -v- GP – Instructed to represent client in £50m fraud and forgery trial at Southwark CC
• C -v- R and R – Allegation of multi million pound fraud on very high profile company by directors
• H -v- H – Allegation of fraud on company by other family members in the High Court, at Judicial Review dealing with issues of general importance relating to motive in private prosecutions
• R -v- M – A complex private prosecution arising from an alleged fraud between two businesses/individuals and involving numerous legal arguments
• R -v- F & Others – Instructed on behalf of the victim company/trustee in a sophisticated fraud involving the theft of IP from a company/trust and the utilisation of that stolen IP to establish and run a competitor agency
• An international business fraud conducted from Hong-Kong, South America and Kazakhstan to the UK. The fraud resulted in the loss of large sums to a private individual and culminated in conviction and an order that the sums defrauded be repaid.
• A multi-handed prosecution brought against the CEO of the UK subsidiary of a large multi-national corporation for a 14 years fraud against the corporation;
• R v A – Private Prosecution of a number of senior employees of a UK subsidiary of a large multi-national. The case involved a long contested trial and a multiplicity of evidential and legal issues. The defendants were convicted and Confiscation Orders Made.