Quentin achieves success for client in opposing Stalking Protection Order

Police application for a Stalking Protection Order withdrawn after representations by criminal defence barrister Quentin Hunt, preventing a contested court hearing

Civil application for a Stalking Protection Order
Quentin's representations
Police discontinue application for the Order

Introduction

Mr HS faced a civil application for a Stalking Protection Order in the Magistrates Court under the Stalking Protection Act 2019 in respect of his future conduct following the demise of a relationship with his ex-partner.

The Police applied for the Order despite not prosecuting him under the criminal law and HS felt that the application was unfair and rested on an incorrect interpretation of the underlying facts.

HS had instructed a firm of solicitors to assist him, and the matter had proceeded through the Courts to the extent that it was listed for a contested hearing over 2 days in the Magistrates Court.

HS felt that the Solicitors he instructed had not been proactive enough in trying to get the matter dismissed and therefore decided to change representation to Criminal Defence Barrister Quentin Hunt under the Direct Public Access scheme.

Representations

Upon instruction Quentin considered the case papers in some detail and spoke to HS in detail in conference. Upon assessing the case Quentin felt that it was totally unmeritorious and drafted a detailed set of representations as to why the statutory criteria for the granting of an application was not met.

Quentin also contacted the solicitors for the Police and made representations that the case should be discontinued and did not fulfil the statutory guidance, although these were initially not accepted, he persisted and the day before the hearing the Police confirmed that they were willing to discontinue their application for the Order.

Outcome

At Court the Police confirmed that the Order was not sought, and matters were discontinued. Quentin’s client was very pleased as he felt that a significant injustice had been prevented and he was not subject to any Court order.

If you face a Stalking Protection Order you may wish to instruct proactive, effective counsel to provide you with the best opportunity of defeating any Police application.

Quentin Hunt is a Criminal Defence Barrister of 25 years experience who has been dealing with Stalking Protection Orders since the inception of the legislation.

He dealt with the first such application ever made by the Metropolitan Police and has specialised in dealing with such cases ever since.

He is of the view that ‘the best way to win a trial is never to have a trial at all’ and always pushes for his client’s cases to be discontinued or dropped at the earliest stage. You may contact Quentin for a free, no obligation conversation about your case.

Read Quentin’s detailed guide to Stalking protection orders.