Legal fees for misconduct investigations from April 2023 to March 2024

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.041576

I note you seek access to the following information:

How much did the force spend on legal fees for misconduct investigations over the past financial year from April 2023 to March 2024?

1 CLARIFICATION -
To clarify yes can we please have the total costs relating to hearings, proceedings and investigations.

2 CLARIFICATION -
Can we please have the fees for the cost of counsel for all MISCONDUCT case files.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

The Directorate of Legal Services (DLS) is an in-house legal department providing advice and representation for The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. It is not possible to provide a full picture for ‘legal fees’ as DLS in-house lawyers do not charge ‘hourly rates’ as an external legal firm would. The costs of the Directorate of Legal Services are not recorded on a granular level and consist of facilities and staff salaries. The only identifiable legal costs recorded are payments to external barristers (Counsel fees) and/or external law firms (Professional fees).

DLS provide advice and representation on a range of misconduct related matters, including investigations, advice work, misconduct proceedings (Gross Misconduct Hearings and Accelerated Misconduct Hearings), appeals and related Judicial Review proceedings. DLS register cases on an internal case management system. Misconduct related matters are registered under the MISCONDUCT (MIS) case type and then sub-categorised.

A total of £982,969.68 is recorded as having been paid to counsel on MISCONDUCT (MIS) related cases in the period 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.