Elliot Gold KC has co-authored the 2027 edition of Blackstone’s Police Manual Volume 3: General Police Duties, published by Oxford University Press.

The manual provides an updated and practical guide to general police duties, incorporating recent developments in legislation and case law. It covers a wide range of key areas including public order, terrorism, domestic abuse, complaints and misconduct, and police powers under PACE.

Elliot co-authors the latest edition alongside Glenn Hutton, Andy Cox and Paul Connor, having also contributed to previous editions of the publication.

Elliot is a leading police law practitioner and took silk in 2025. He is ranked by both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 for Police Law and Professional Discipline.

The latest edition is available to purchase here: Oxford University Press

Anthony Haycroft successfully represented a doctor before a Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal, “MPT”, in August 2026 in a Review Fitness to Practise hearing.

The doctor had been convicted in January 2024 of writing fraudulent prescriptions in his own name and that of patients (some deceased) on several occasions in an 8-month period in 2021. He was given a community order in the criminal court. Before an MPT in August 2025 the GMC sought his erasure on the basis of the seriousness of his conviction. Anthony Haycroft persuaded the MPT to impose a 12-month suspension order with a review. Central to the case was the doctor’s ill-health which led him to commit the offences as he failed to cope with various stresses in his life.

By the review hearing the doctor had not worked for over 2 years and could be regarded as having de-skilled and not having shown an ability to cope with clinical work again. These factors often lead to a finding of current impairment and the defence were prepared to argue for appropriate conditions of practise. However, the MPT accepted Anthony Haycroft’s argument that the doctor had shown sufficient insight, reflection and a plan for safe return to work such that they found that there was no current impairment and the case was closed.

Anthony Haycroft was instructed by Nicola O’Connor of MDDUS, London. Lucy Chapman of Great James Street Chambers presented the case for the GMC.

Sophia Roper KC and Benjamin Harrison successfully appeared before the Vice-president of the Court of Protection, Theis J, in Re RF (No.2) [2026] EWCOP 41 (T3) on behalf of the Official Solicitor. This case concerned an application by a Scottish local authority seeking recognition and enforcement of a foreign protective measure under Schedule 3 to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

This Schedule 3 application is the sequel to RF (No.1) [2025] EWCOP 1 (T3) in which Sophia and Ben persuaded Theis J to refuse to recognise and enforce a previous Scottish Guardianship Order concerning RF in England on the basis that, among other things, that order had been made in circumstances which breached RF’s rights under Article 5(4) ECHR.

Following the decision in RF (No.1), the Scottish local authority invited the Scottish sheriff to renew the Guardianship Order taking into account the deficiencies identified by the Official Solicitor in the previous Schedule 3 application for recognition and enforcement. This included inviting the Scottish sheriff to (1) reduce the length of the order from three years to one year in duration and (2) appoint an independent, legally qualified, Safeguarder to ensure that RF’s right to a regular review of his detention under Article 5(4) is effective.

With these modifications, the renewed application for recognition and enforcement was unopposed.

At para 76, the court also applied the new multi-factorial approach to determining when someone is deprived of their liberty following AGNI [2026] UKSC 16.

Sophia and Ben were instructed by Melissa Law of Edwards Duthie  Shamash solicitors.

The link to the judgment in RF (No.1) can be found here: https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewcop/t3/2025/12?query=RF

The link to the judgment in RF (No.2) can be found here: https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewcop/t3/2026/41?query=RF

We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for 3 awards at the Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards 2026.

• Anthony Haycroft for Professional Discipline Junior of the Year
• Ed Pleeth for Inquests and Public Inquiries Junior of the Year
• Professional Discipline Set of the Year

Thank you to Chambers and Partners and to our clients for their ongoing support.

In Kearney & BBC v PSNI & Ors, Aaron Rathmell represented Durham Constabulary and James Berry KC and Chloe Hill represented the Metropolitan Police Service. The case concerned covert powers used in respect of a prominent journalist in Northern Ireland and followed on from the case of McCaffrey & Birney v PSNI & Ors in which James, Chloe and Aaron also appeared.

In LMN & XYZ v Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset Constabulary, James Berry KC represented the Constabulary. The case concerned the use of surveillance in a rear garden during the investigation into a neighbour dispute and considered whether this amounted to intrusive surveillance.

We are delighted to announce that Daniel Kemp has joined Serjeants’ Inn Chambers as our new Director of Clerking.

He joins our Senior Management Team, working with our Chief Executive, Catherine Calder, together with the Heads of Chambers, to build on Serjeants’ Inn’s continuing progression and success.

Read the Global Legal Post article on Daniel’s arrival here.