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07 July 2020
Issue: 7894 / Categories: Legal News , Covid-19
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Prosecuting Dominic Cummings

A former Chief Crown Prosecutor for the north west has engaged lawyers with a view to bringing a private prosecution against the Prime Minister’s chief advisor Dominic Cummings

Nazir Afzal believes the police have not gathered all the relevant evidence regarding Cummings’s notorious trip to Durham while infected with COVID-19 and have not investigated at all some of the alleged breaches of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 and related offences.

His lawyers wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Max Hill QC, the Chief Constable of Durham and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police last week asking them to investigate further and provide detailed information.

Afzal’s solicitor, Mike Schwarz, partner at Hodge, Jones & Allen, said: ‘It is his simple wish and expectation that current senior police investigators and prosecutors are reminded of their responsibilities and carry out their duties in Mr Cummings’ case. By failing to do so they would perpetuate the public’s perception that there is one rule for those in positions of power and another for ordinary citizens.’

Issue: 7894 / Categories: Legal News , Covid-19
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Taylor Rose—Jessica Draganescu & Emily Hewlett

Taylor Rose—Jessica Draganescu & Emily Hewlett

Firm strengthens growth strategy and group litigation capability with senior hires

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
The legal profession’s claim to be a ‘guardian of fairness’ is under scrutiny after stark findings on gender imbalance and opaque progression. Writing in NLJ this week, Joshua Purser of No5 Barristers’ Chambers and Govindi Deerasinghe of Global 50/50 warn that leadership remains dominated by a narrow elite, with men holding 71% of top court roles
A legal challenge to police disclosure rules has failed, reinforcing a push for transparency in policing. In NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth examines a case where the Metropolitan Police required officers to declare membership of groups like the Freemasons
Bereavement leave is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Writing in NLJ this week, Robert Hargreaves of York St John University explains how the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a day-one right to leave for a wider range of losses, alongside new provisions for pregnancy loss and bereaved partners
Courts are beginning to grapple with whether AI-generated material is legally privileged—and the answers are mixed. In this week's issue of NLJ, Stacie Bourton, Tom Whittaker & Beata Kolodziej of Burges Salmon examine US rulings showing how easily privilege can be lost
New guidance seeks to bring order to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Minesh Tanna and David Bridge of Simmons & Simmons set out a framework stressing ‘transparency’, ‘explainability’ and ‘reliability’
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