I offer many years of experience in most areas of criminal law with a specific expertise in the defence of animal welfare and cruelty prosecutions brought by both the CPS and the RSPCA. I also have a wealth of experience in the defence of dangerous dogs’ prosecutions.
My approach
I am very thorough and well organised, I prefer potential clients to explain the background to their case via e mail and then I will set up a face to face meeting (if that is possible) in order to obtain a thorough knowledge of their situation. There will be an initial charge for the time taken to consider the case on the papers and, a face to face conference would involve a further fixed fee.
I am prepared to travel to my clients, although I would charge the costs of travel.
Costs: I usually set fixed fees, so that you know exactly how much you will have to pay. I am able to assist and advise with case management and the preparation of statements.
My work
(1) I was contacted by two clients in August 2015, who had both been charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (DDA) of owning, and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place. The allegation was that the dog in question had bitten and injured a female in a public house. The clients had sought advice from a high street criminal solicitor who had advised them that the DDA was a strict liability offence and suggested that they plead guilty at the first opportunity. Due to my background of teaching, research and presenting at conferences in this subject area, I was able to confidently advise that the DDA was not in fact a strict liability offence and I quoted case law to support this proposition. I also advised the clients to instruct a reputable canine aggression expert to assist and educate the Court regarding the dog’s behaviour in the specific circumstances of this allegation. I advised and assisted the clients in drafting letters to the Court and the CPS regarding the case law and the expert’s report and conducted the trial in the Magistrates’ Court. Both clients were acquitted after trial and were awarded their legal fees from Central Funds. The initial legal advice on the High Street would have resulted in both clients receiving a conviction and it is highly likely that the dog concerned would have been destroyed.
(2) I was contacted by two clients in December 2015 regarding two separate charges, one under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 and one under the 1871 Dogs Act. They had been advised by the Police that there was no defence to these types of charges and that they were clearly guilty. Due to my knowledge and experience I was able to guide the clients through a very difficult court process involving one criminal charge and one matter which was a civil claim but, heard in the criminal courts. The CPS submitted that both matters should be heard together but, as I explained to them, both matters involved different standards of proof and should not be considered together. I advised in relation to several letters to the Police and CPS regarding disclosure and evidential issues. I was able to guide the clients through a complicated process and used my experience of forensic veterinary experts to successfully highlight the lack of any forensic testing and submit that there was no forensic link to the dogs owned by the clients. I conducted the trial hearing in the Magistrates’ Court and both clients were acquitted and awarded their defence legal costs from Central Funds.
About me
I have been a barrister since 1999, and have over 17 years of experience in practice of both criminal and family law.
I live in the beautiful and peaceful Tyne Valley in Northumberland with my daughter, 3 faithful beagle hounds and 3 horses. My daughter is a very active and successful amateur show jumper which takes us both all over the country for competitions at national level culminating in qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show finals of the Horseware silver league show jumping finals in October.
What my clients say
"We would definitely recommend Alison Howey. Her knowledge of current animal law combined with her compassionate and experienced professional approach gave us confidence and support in what was a very stressful situation. When charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act she helped us navigate the criminal court proceedings to a successful outcome."
Professional & academic
I studied Law at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle from 1994 to 1998. I completed the Bar Vocational Course at the University of Northumbria in 1999.
I was called to the Bar in July 1999.
I was accredited by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to teach advocacy at post graduate level, in 2012. In 2013 I was approved by the BSB as a Pupil Supervisor and an Approved Training Organisation in order to take on a pupil barrister. I obtained a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching (PGHEP) from the University of Northumbria in 2014 and am now a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
Memberships
British Veterinary Forensic Law Association (BVFLA)
International Veterinary Forensic Science Association (IVFSA)
I have published articles on the subject of animal law in practitioner journals.