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Select an area of expertise to find out more about our experience.
Find out more about our barristers and business support teams here.
John specialises in police law, data protection and information law, public and administrative law (including judicial review, human rights and national security), and inquests and public inquiries.
Recognised as a Leading Junior in Police Law, Inquests & Inquiries and Data Protection by both Chambers UK and the Legal 500, John is commended for his intellectual precision, advocacy skills, and calm authority under pressure.
Major cases John has recently been involved in include:
He is a member of the Attorney General’s B Panel (appointed 2024 following a term on the C Panel) and has appeared before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court, with a broad practice spanning civil, public and regulatory jurisdictions.
John acts for a wide range of clients including police forces, central Government, local authorities, regulators, charities, private companies, and individuals. Before the Bar, he served as an officer in the British Army, with operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
John is qualified to accept instructions via Direct Public Access.
John is ranked as a Leading Junior (Band 2) in Police Law by both Chambers UK and the Legal 500, with clients praising him as “brilliant, quietly intellectual and a great advocate” and as “an exceptional legal analyst and persuasive advocate in this specialist area.”
He is frequently instructed in complex and high-profile civil claims against the police, including those involving false imprisonment, assault, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, and breaches of the Human Rights Act and Equality Act. His trial experience encompasses civil jury trials and High Court proceedings. He is adept at managing sensitive or reputationally challenging cases.
John has acted in a number of leading police law cases, including:
He has substantial expertise in terrorism-related litigation, acting for police forces and Counter-Terrorism Police in cases under the Terrorism Acts. He is the go-to counsel for terrorism notification order litigation, having appeared in every recent reported case, including:
John also acts in public law matters arising from police decisions, including judicial reviews and case stated appeals relating to civil powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Dangerous Dogs Act, firearms licensing, and more.
John has exceptional knowledge of data protection and information law as they relate to law enforcement, including claims for misuse of private information and breaches of Part 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018. He is also regularly instructed to advise on investigatory powers and on cases in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
John has an extensive practice in information law, and ranked as a Leading Junior for Data Protection by both Chambers UK and Legal 500.
He represents both claimants (data subjects) and defendants (data controllers) in complex litigation involving misuse of private information, breach of confidence, and UK GDPR/Data Protection Act claims.
Notable highlights include:
John regularly delivers training to police forces, government departments, and other public bodies on data protection, information sharing, and investigatory powers, and is a founding editor of 5 Essex Chambers’ widely read ‘Data Brief’ newsletter.
John is recognised as a Leading Junior in Inquests & Inquiries by Chambers UK (Band 3) and the Legal 500 (Band 4) for his extensive experience representing a diverse range of clients, including police forces, government departments, families, and other interested persons in both jury and non-jury inquests.
He regularly advises on and appears in complex Article 2 inquests concerning deaths in custody, police operations, and public safety, as well as non-Article 2 inquests. Notable recent cases include:
John’s military background gives him unique insight into service deaths and military investigations, making him an invaluable advocate in inquests involving armed forces personnel.
He is also well-versed in procedural and statutory applications such as resumption of inquests and fresh inquest applications under section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988.
John is an accomplished counsel in major public inquiries, combining his public law expertise with his military and policing knowledge.
He is currently counsel to the Southport Inquiry, focusing on themes of policing, counter-terrorism, weapons regulation, and social care.
His inquiry experience includes:
John regularly appears in the Administrative Court and other judicial review forums, advising and representing government departments, police forces, and public bodies in high-stakes public law challenges. He is highly skilled in drafting robust judicial review claims and grounds of defence, advising on procedure, and managing complex multi-party litigation.
He has acted in judicial review cases involving:
Human rights issues are frequently at the core of John’s work, particularly involving Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
He advises on liability and damages under the Human Rights Act 1998 and appears in a wide range of courts and tribunals where human rights are engaged—either on standalone bases or alongside other legal issues.
John appeared in the landmark case XGY v Crown Prosecution Service [2025] EWCA Civ 1230, which re-affirmed the principle of immunity from suit for acts done in the course of legal proceedings in the context of human rights and information claims.
John maintains a busy and high-profile disciplinary practice, primarily representing the Appropriate Authority in police misconduct proceedings.
He is experienced in a wide range of serious allegations, including police corruption, criminal offences, misuse of force, operational dishonesty, financial impropriety, improper access to police data, sexual misconduct, and discriminatory behaviour.
John’s expertise includes drafting Regulation 30 notices, advising on the conduct of investigations and hearings, and representing forces in appeals to the Police Appeals Tribunal and judicial reviews of public complaint handling.
Significant cases include:
The misconduct proceedings and appeal of PC K, who was dismissed without notice after he was proven to have used excessive force against a Black child with learning difficulties);
The misconduct proceedings of PC R, who was dismissed without notice after failing to investigate allegations of domestic harassment and making dishonest entries on the crime log;
The misconduct proceedings of PC M, who was dismissed without notice for racist and homophobic behaviour while off-duty;
The misconduct proceedings and appeal of PC L, who was dismissed without notice for attempting to cover up a minor collision in a police vehicle, including by pressuring a more junior officer to lie about what occurred;
The misconduct proceedings of PC S, who was dismissed without notice after he misused police systems to find out information about a missing person, and then formed an emotional relationship with that person.
John regularly acts in both multi-track and fast-track personal injury claims involving occupiers’ liability, employer’s liability, public liability, and highway authority liability under the Highways Act 1980. His practice encompasses advising on liability and quantum, drafting pleadings, and representing clients at contested hearings and case management conferences.
Many of John’s public and police law instructions have a personal injury element, and he is regularly instructed by government departments, local authorities, and police forces to handle complex injury claims with professionalism and strategic insight.
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Instructing John
Please contact Dan Waple if you have any questions or wish to instruct us.
Inquests and Public Inquiries:
“John is impressive in every respect: measured, meticulous and unflappable under pressure. He navigates sensitive matters with real care and authority, earning trust from all sides.”
“John is a brilliant mind and an effective advocate.”
“John is very knowledgeable in military matters and very on top of the intricacies in procedural matters.”
Police Law:
“John Goss is working beyond his call. He is exceptional.”
“John Goss is very thorough, he really understands the detail. He is a very nice advocate, calm in his manner and effective at getting his point across. He is a good opponent and easy to work with.”
Data Protection:
“John is impressive. He is very thorough in his research. He has a real gravitas.”
Police Law:
“John is an exceptional legal analyst and persuasive advocate in this specialist area.”
Inquests and Inquiries:
“He is extremely knowledgeable, thorough and forensic. In making his submissions, he has the gravitas and authority of a silk.”
Police Law:
“He is an invaluable source of reassurance to clients.”
“John Goss finds the best option by identifying positives, negatives, risks and implications. He gets to the crux of the issues, and his preparation and attention to detail are flawless.”
Inquests and Public Inquiries:
“John is a superb oral advocate. He is very direct, to the point and gets his point across in few words very effectively.”
“He has a brilliant advocacy style and his legal acumen is outstanding.”
Data Protection:
“His advocacy skills are particularly impressive. He is nimble and sharp, and delivers submissions or cross-examination with focus and logic.”
“John’s legal preparation, written argument and oral advocacy are faultless. You can rely on him to guide you through difficult and complex areas with confidence.” (Police Law: Mainly Defendant)
“He is the perfect representative for his clients, demonstrating what confident, caring, intelligent and diligent counsel he is.” (Police Law: Mainly Defendant)
“His knowledge and acumen are outstanding for someone of such recent call.” (Inquests & Public Inquiries)
“John is very calm and efficient and handled the matter well.” (Inquests & Public Inquiries)
“A very clever individual whose written work is compelling and absolutely meticulous. He is someone you can count on to deliver what you need, when you need it.”
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