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Catriona Hodge specialises in police and public law, inquests, employment, human rights and information law.
She is regularly instructed by police forces to act in civil claims, inquests and judicial review proceedings. Catriona has experience working for government departments and has acted for individuals, corporations and local authorities in employment, immigration and personal injury claims.
Recent examples of her work include Gatland & Others v Independent Police Complaints Commission (claims for breach of Articles 6 and 8 and Article 1 of the First Protocol of the European Convention), Rees & Others v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (claims for malicious prosecution and misfeasance), Ipswich Town Football Club Company Ltd v The Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary (a claim for repayment of money relating to the provision of special police services at football matches).
Catriona is appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel.
Catriona is happy to provide lectures and training relating to developments in her practice areas.
Catriona is regularly instructed to act for police forces in claims for malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, assault, trespass, negligence, defamation and breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998. She has experience of acting in claims for discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 and for breaches of the Data Protection Act. As junior counsel, she has been instructed in claims for misfeasance, for the repayment of money relating to the provision of special police services and for the quashing of a search warrant.
Catriona has considerable advocacy experience appearing frequently in the High Court and County Courts. She is adept at witness handling having acted in a lengthy civil jury trial and a complex fact-finding hearing in care proceedings. Catriona is regularly instructed in family proceedings to make sensitive ex parte and inter partes applications to withhold disclosure of evidence on grounds of public interest immunity.
Gatland and others v Independent Police Complaints Commission (High Court, ongoing)
claims for breach of Articles 6 and 8 and Article 1 of the First Protocol of the European Convention arising from three independent investigations into allegations of police misconduct (led by Jason Beer QC).
Rees and Others v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2017] EWHC 273 (High Court) and [2018] EWCA Civ 1587 (Court of Appeal)
claims for malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office arising out of the murder of Daniel Morgan in 1987 (led by Jeremy Johnson QC). Quantum of damages ongoing in the Court of Appeal.
Ipswich Town Football Club Co Ltd v Chief Constable of Suffolk [2016] 4 W.L.R. 118 (High Court) and [2017] 4 W.L.R 195 (Court of Appeal)
a claim for the repayment of money relating to the provision of special police services at football matches.
Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis v Jamie Thorpe [2015] EWHC 3339 (Admin)
an appeal brought by way of case stated against a decision of the Ealing Magistrates’ Court to impose restrictions on a football banning order.
R (on the application of Craig Paolo) v City of London Magistrates’ Court & Commissioner of Police for the City of London [2014] EWHC 2011 (Admin)
an application for an order quashing a search warrant on grounds of material non-disclosure.
Catriona has acted in a number of sensitive and lengthy inquests involving allegations of failings on the part of state agents. She has experience of cases concerning homicide, police pursuits and deaths (including suicides) following police custody and other contact with the police such as 999 calls. Several of her cases have involved a complex history of mental illness including detention in mental health institutions and contact with community mental health teams.
Catriona has represented police forces, family members and a healthcare professional. She has been instructed to handle applications for witness anonymity, public interest immunity and judicial review claims challenging the verdict of inquests. She regularly advises on case preparation, witness handling and disclosure.
Inquest into the death of Craig Sanders [2019]
Instructed to act in an Article 2 inquest, before a jury, into the death of a psychiatric patient during a period of escorted leave from hospital.
Inquest into the death of Michael Dowling [2016]
Acted for a police force in an inquest into the death of a man who committed suicide during the execution of an arrest warrant.
Inquest into the death of Shawn Browne [2015]
acting on behalf of West Midlands Police in an Article 2 inquest, before a jury, into the death of a suspect during a police pursuit.
Inquest into the death of Joshua Brown [2015]
instructed by Surrey Police to act in an Article 2 inquest, held with a jury, into the death of a pedestrian during a police response to a 999 call.
Inquest into the death of Terence Wotton [2014]
Article 2 inquest into the tragic death of a man murdered by his son who suffered from a serious mental illness.
Catriona has acted in judicial review claims concerning investigative failures by the police, breaches of the Data Protection Act, a challenge to the lawfulness of a search warrant (as junior counsel) and applications to quash inquest verdicts and order fresh inquests. She has experience working for the government and representing claimants in cases concerning immigration detention, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and modern slavery.
Flower v Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon Coroner [2016] 1 W.L.R. 2221
an application for a fresh inquest to be held pursuant to s. 13 of the Coroners Act 1988.
R (on the application of Craig Paolo) v City of London Magistrates’ Court & Commissioner of Police for the City of London [2014] EWHC 2011 (Admin)
an application for an order quashing a search warrant on grounds of material non-disclosure.
Catriona’s practice encompasses a broad range of human rights issues. She has experience of cases involving investigative failings, allegations of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, breach of privacy, infringement of the right to freedom of assembly and discrimination. She has acted on behalf of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and has dealt with cases involving victims of modern slavery.
Before calling to the bar, Catriona worked as an assistant in the Human Rights Department of Leigh Day. The cases in which she was involved included the independent inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, an application to the ECtHR challenging the decision of a local authority to take a baby into care and a licensing appeal challenging a local authority’s failure to comply with its race equality duties.
Gatland and others v Independent Police Complaints Commission (High Court, ongoing)
claims for breach of Articles 6 and 8 and Article 1 of the First Protocol of the European Convention arising from three independent investigations into allegations of police misconduct (led by Jason Beer QC).
Catriona has experience representing individuals, public bodies and private organisations in claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing. She was instructed as junior counsel to review a significant volume of disclosure and prepare witness evidence in a large-scale and complex claim of whistleblowing against the Secretary of State for Health.
Catriona’s recent work has included conducting a 7-day trial of claims for disability, sex and race discrimination, obtaining substantial damages for a client in a claim for whistleblowing, acting for a claimant in a claim for unfair dismissal following a business restructuring which resulted in redundancy and handing a complex claim for discrimination against a qualifications body pursuant to s53 of the Equality Act 2010.
Catriona has experience of cases concerning misuse of private information, breach of confidence and breaches of Article 8 ECHR. She has been instructed in claims for compensation and judicial review proceedings for breaches of the Data Protection Act. Catriona is regularly instructed to handle applications for public interest immunity and for disclosure of information between related sets of proceedings. Her advisory work has covered issues arising under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
Catriona is regularly instructed to act in cases involving Occupiers’ Liability, Defective Premises, Highway Maintenance and Health and Safety at Work.
Catriona has conducted fast-track trials and settlement negotiations and has considerable experience of pleading and advisory work.
Inquest into the death of Terence Wotton (2014)
acted for an approved mental health professional in this Article 2 inquest into the tragic death of a man murdered by a family member who suffered from an acute mental illness.
Inquest into the death of Michael Dowling (2016)
acted in an inquest into the suicide of a male who suffered from psychosis and whose treatment was being managed by his community mental health team.
Inquest into the death of June Vickery (2016)
acted for family members at a pre inquest hearing into the death of a hospital patient resulting from suspected neglect.
Inquest into the death of Craig Sanders (2018)
acting in an inquest into the death of a male who tragically committed suicide whilst on s. 17 leave.
Keble Advanced Advocacy Course (2016)
undertook training in expert medical evidence.
Independent Inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (2010-2011)
worked as a paralegal for Leigh Day and Co Solicitors who represented a group of family members of patients who died in the care of the Trust.
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Instructing Catriona
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Inquests and Public Inquiries
“Catriona has a very good analytical mind and can provide answers to questions in milliseconds. She is very hard-working.”
“Catriona has got really good judgement and she is highly organised. She cuts through the issues straight away.”
Police Law: Mainly Defendant
“Catriona is a good communicator and she returns the papers promptly.”
“Catriona Hodge is thorough and always happy to discuss things. Her advice is really detailed.”
‘Extremely bright, highly organised, immensely diligent, very easy to work with.’ (Inquests and Inquiries)
“I am always impressed with Catriona’s work, which is always detailed and clearly demonstrates a highly developed knowledge of the area of law. The service she provides is also first-rate and she is able to turn around work quickly, often at short notice.” (Police Law)
“Catriona is a confident advocate who has a real skill in addressing really sensitive matters.” (Inquests and Public Inquiries)
“She works well under pressure and is very intelligent.” (Inquests and Public Inquiries)
“She is the perfect mixture of proper preparation and someone who is not afraid of taking a good point.”
“She is a good advocate who produces sensible and clear skeleton arguments.”
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