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Find out more about our barristers and business support teams here.
David Messling practises across Chambers’ main practice areas, specialising in police law, public law, human rights and civil liberties, inquests and public inquiries, data protection and information law, professional discipline, and malfeasance claims (including assault, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and misfeasance). His clients include police forces, public bodies, and private individuals.
He appears frequently as sole counsel and junior counsel before a range of courts and tribunals. His recent cases have included acting for the Metropolitan Police Service in the inquest into the death of PS Ratana, for NHS Digital in the Covid-19 Inquiry, and as junior counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
He is often instructed in civil claims against police forces in the High Court and County Court for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and assault, including in jury trials. He regularly advises on complex and sensitive matters, including protest and public order, treatment of detainees, firearms, seizure of dangerous dogs (R (Andrews) v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2022] EWHC 887 (Admin)) and sexual impropriety and abuse of position. He recently appeared in the Court of Appeal in Carter v Chief Constable of Essex Police [2025] EWCA Civ 367, regarding the treatment of detainees. Other recent cases have included appearances in the High Court regarding police powers of seizure, mental health detention (Angelo v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2024] EWHC 1396 (KB)) and challenges to a Serious Crime Prevention Order (Juul v Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys [2024] EWHC 193 (Admin)).
David undertakes police misconduct work for forces across the country, including in judicial review claims arising from misconduct proceedings and police complaints. He represented the Metropolitan Police Service in the recent proceedings brought by Kristina O’Connor (R (O’Connor v Police Misconduct Panel [2023] EWHC 2892 (Admin)).
He is presently instructed by hostage victims of British Airways Flight BA149 in claims against the UK Government and British Airways, led by Anne Studd KC.
David regularly delivers training to solicitors’ firms and police forces on topics including human rights, judicial review, data protection and civil claims. Ranked in Chambers and Partners as an ‘Up and Coming’ barrister, referees have described him as “very quick-minded, straightforward and thorough”, “great to work with”, a “very capable advocate whose legal arguments are always clearly set out and easy to follow”, and “a real safe pair of hands with flair.”
Before coming to the Bar in 2018, David spent five years working in the Higher Education sector, including as an adjudicator for the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education.
David regularly represents and advises police forces defending claims brought in the High Court and County Court, including for false imprisonment, negligence, assault/battery, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office and breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, and the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.
He also delivers training for police solicitors on new and evolving areas of police law, including human rights, police misconduct, freedom of information and data protection, and judicial review
He is frequently instructed in claims regarding arrest, alleged damage to property, stop and search, and allegations of mistreatment in custody. David is also regularly instructed in interim applications, including for strike out and summary judgment. Recent trials as sole counsel have included the following:
David also has extensive experience representing police forces in a wide range of police civil applications and appeals. These have included Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders, Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and Sexual Risk Orders, Closure Orders, Gang Injunctions, and committal applications.
David’s cases have included matters relating to the civil forfeiture of funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, including cash forfeiture, account freezing and forfeiture applications, and judicial reviews relating to POCA decisions. He also has experience of advising on the forfeiture of cryptocurrency.
He has appeared in family proceedings in the High Court and Family Court, representing police forces seeking or resisting disclosure of information from family proceedings and on applications for Forced Marriage Protection Orders, including FMPOs in relation to persons lacking capacity.
David is regularly instructed to draft summary and detailed grounds and to appear on behalf of public bodies in hearings in the Administrative Court.
His recent judicial review experience has included defending challenges to police seizures of dangerous dogs, resisting applications against Crown Court decisions to forfeit money as proceeds of crime, and responding to challenges to decisions made under the police complaints regime. David has also advised on judicial review proceedings of decisions not to prosecute, community resolution outcomes to criminal investigations, and retention of police information.
David acted for the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police in R(Andrews) v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2022] EWHC 887 (Admin), which addressed police powers of seizure under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
He acted for the Commissioner of the City of London Police in Duffy v City of London Police & Ors [2021] NIQB 49, led by John-Paul Waite, in proceedings regarding the jurisdiction of English police forces in Northern Ireland.
He is presently instructed, led by Anne Studd KC, for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in R(O’Connor) v Police Misconduct Panel & Ors, having represented the Appropriate Authority in the police misconduct proceedings.
David also regularly appears in the Crown Court to resist appeals against firearms licensing decisions, including cases involving issues of mental health and domestic violence. He has experience of advising on firearms licensing refusals based on sensitive intelligence.
Before coming to the Bar, David worked as an adjudicator for the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, including responding to judicial review claims against the ombudsman.
David regularly acts for police forces across the county in misconduct proceedings, including accelerated misconduct proceedings. He has acted as Appropriate Authority counsel in cases involving excessive use of force, discrimination, dishonesty, sexual impropriety, and abuse of position. He is frequently instructed in complex and lengthy misconduct proceedings.
David’s experience prior to coming to the bar also has extensive experience of fitness to practise cases involving trainee healthcare professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, doctors, and physiotherapists. Prior to coming to the bar, his work as an adjudicator included judging complaints regarding Equality Act 2010 discrimination, disclosure of criminal convictions, and alleged abuse of process.
David regularly appears in inquest proceedings, including jury inquests and cases engaging Article 2 of the ECHR. He has particular experience in inquests involving police shootings, deaths in custody, missing persons investigations, and complex mental health issues.
David acted for the Metropolitan Police Service in the inquest into the fatal stabbing of PS Matiu Ratana, led by Clair Dobbin KC and Matthew Butt KC, and for the Secretary of State for the Home Department, led by Francesca Whitelaw KC, in the inquests into the 2020 Reading Forbury Gardens terror attack.
He often acts as sole counsel in cases involving suicide or sudden death following police contact or in other circumstances where emergency services have been called to attend serious incidents. He is experienced in issues of wider policy and practice.
David regularly acts for Police Forces in misconduct proceedings, including accelerated misconduct proceedings. He has been instructed as Appropriate Authority counsel in cases covering excessive use of force, racial discrimination, operational dishonesty, and sexual assault. David also has experience of drafting Regulation 30 notices and advising on hearings involving special measures and vulnerable witnesses.
His discipline practice has also included acting on judicial review claims relating to misconduct outcomes and to the handling of public complaints.
David also has extensive experience of fitness to practise cases involving trainee healthcare professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, doctors, and physiotherapists. His work as an adjudicator prior to coming to the bar, has included judging complaints regarding Equality Act 2010 discrimination, disclosure of criminal convictions, and alleged abuse of process.
David acted as junior counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, focusing in particular on the Inquiry’s investigation of the smoke ventilation system at Grenfell Tower. He represented NHS Digital in the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry led by Alex Ustych.
David regularly acts on behalf of public bodies in judicial review proceedings. His experience has included:
David acted for the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police in R(Andrews) v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police [2022] EWHC 887 (Admin), which addressed police powers of seizure under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
He acted for the Commissioner of the City of London Police in Duffy v City of London Police & Ors [2021] NIQB 49, led by John-Paul Waite, in proceedings regarding the jurisdiction of English police forces in Northern Ireland.
He appeared for the Metropolitan Police Service, led by Anne Studd KC, in R(O’Connor) v Police Misconduct Panel & Ors [2023] EWHC 2892 (Admin), and represented the Appropriate Authority as sole counsel in the police misconduct proceedings. He recently appeared in the Court of Appeal in Carter v Chief Constable of Essex Police [2025] EWCA Civ 367, led by Paul Stagg KC.
30 May 2025
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Instructing David
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“David is a very reliable and safe junior, with great keenness and a lovely manner.”
“David Messling is fair and honest, but a fighter!”
“David has a wide breadth of experience in police law and he is always helpful, attentive and produces work of a high standard.”
Police Law
“David is a very capable advocate whose legal arguments are always clearly set out and easy to follow.”
“David is great to work with and picks up the key issues quickly. His drafting is excellent.”
“David Messling is very quick-minded, straightforward and thorough. A real safe pair of hands with flair.”
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