Broadcaster

Presenter

Writer

Commentator

Chris Daw KC is a regular media contributor to national and international discussions on criminal justice reform, the state of UK and world politics.

Chris brings a down-to-earth and relatable approach to all of his writing and media activities. He aims to enlighten and entertain with his contributions on a wide range of topical legal and political issues.

Chris' bestselling and groundbreaking book, Justice on Trial (Bloomsbury), received widespread critical acclaim for its hard-hitting analysis of our broken criminal justice system.

In similar vein, Chris co-presented "Crime - are we tough enough?" for BBC1, lifting the lid on the countless basic failures, afflicting UK policing, courts and prisons. Several other TV drama and documentary projects are currently in the pipeline, via Chris' media production company, Framewood Media.

You can watch all 5 episodes of "Crime - are we tough enough?" here.

Chris has written countless articles, including major cover features, for the national press, including The Guardian, The Times, The Spectator and The Financial Times, some of which can be found below.

To discuss media appearances or commissions for Chris Daw KC, for television, podcasts or the press, please contact Alice Dyson at Framewood Media on the link below.

Publications

Order your copy of Justice on Trial

Justice On Trial

'Chris is a powerful force for good in the national debate on criminal justice.' –The Secret Barrister

'Extraordinary' – Krishnan Guru-Murthy

Chris Daw QC has been practising criminal law for over 30 years, navigating Britain's fractured justice system from within. He has looked into the eyes of murderers, acted for notorious criminals, and listened to the tangled tales woven by fraudsters, money launderers and drug barons. Yet his work takes place at the heart of a system at breaking point – one which is failing perpetrators, victims and society – and now he is convinced that something must change.

Drawing on case histories and global reporting, and published with a new afterword on law in the global pandemic, Justice on Trial presents a radical set of solutions for crime and punishment. By turns shocking, moving and pragmatic, Daw's account offers rare inside access to a system in crisis and a roadmap to a future beyond the binary of good and evil.

Media Articles

Should we treat rioters like football hooligans?Images of thugs causing mayhem on Britain’s streets has brought back painful memories of the football hooligans of the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, ‘firms’ of shaven-headed white men regularly went on the rampage, in and around railway stations, town centres and football grounds. Shops were looted, police officers and their horses were pelted with beer cans, and highly

It's about time we had cameras in courtI stood up this week and made a speech. I have made speeches like this many times in my 26 years as a criminal barrister. For me, and others like me, this is the ultimate demonstration of our craft as lawyers – a closing speech to the jury in a criminal trial. The importance of

Allow TV full access to our courtrooms and justice will truly be seen to be done | Chris DawA judge’s final remarks were broadcast for the first time. This should be the start of opening up

'A stain on national life': why are we locking up so many children?The long read: Britain’s young offender institutions are places of misery and violence, and often more dangerous than adult prisons. Indeed, the evidence is clear that criminalising children just causes more crime

Blurred lines | 4 April 2019It is late, on a wet Tuesday evening in November, and I am driving home, listening to endless talk of Brexit on the radio. The phone rings in the car and cuts off the news. It’s an unknown mobile number; I press the answer button on the steering wheel. A moment’s hesitation and a woman’s

Six worst Downing Street 'parties' - and how lawyer claims they broke Covid lawsChris Daw QC goes through some of the Downing Street gatherings, explaining why he things they were against the law. At the time, Covid restrictions prevented the mingling of different households

The Supreme Court exposed Boris Johnson as the naked emperorAlmost every word of criticism of the judgment of the Supreme Court this week has been, frankly, barmy. Headline after headline has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the court, as it stepped in to reverse the prorogation of parliament for a record-breaking five weeks. Most of the adverse comment has come from those with

A bitter pillI have been a defence lawyer for more than 25 years. I have defended clients charged with almost every crime there is. I have argued against convictions for robbery, rape, sexual assault, murder, manslaughter, copyright theft, perverting the course of justice, perjury, serious fraud, international illegal fishing, money laundering, causing death by dangerous driving, grievous

The short arm of the law The High Court has been hearing a £600m claim, brought by over 5000 investors, against Lloyds Bank and five former directors, seeking compensation for huge losses incurred during the financial crisis.

The emperor has no clothes – time to scrap the Serious Fraud OfficeSFO failings need to be resolved, regardless of the fate of Conservative intention to merge with NCA.

Gatwick Airport: What penalty could a drone operator face?Drones flying near Gatwick Airport have caused chaos to passengers, but how serious is the offence?

England's coronavirus lockdown is lawful. Heavy-handed police enforcement isn't | Chris DawNew legislation now limits the basic freedoms of English law – but police cannot interpret it as they wish, says barrister Chris Daw

Corbyn's cynical Brexit scheme will end in tears for LabourMy piece for Coffee House last week likened Boris Johnson to the naked emperor, puffed up with self-importance but devoid of real power. As the Tory party conference has got underway, I have become even more confident that Boris’s cabinet will soon be shown to be as denuded of power as their leader. But it

The terror of the witches of modern IndiaWhen I landed in Delhi at the height of the monsoon, the excitement in the city was palpable. The Indian Space Research Organisation was planning the launch of Vikram, the country’s first rocket mission to the Moon. Media coverage was ubiquitous and each report was imbued with a gushing sense of national pride. This great nation was

Watch outI was recently treated to a small taste of the real China. It was in the incongruous setting of a vast conference centre in east London, directly under the flight path of City airport. On assignment for the BBC, I found myself wandering the stalls of Europe’s largest international security technology exhibition, filming for a

Broadcasting

The Trial Of Harold Shipman - C5

Broadcast on Channel 5 - Original Air Date: August 22, 2024

Contributing as a Legal Expert, Chris Daw KC provides professional insight into the legal complexities surrounding Shipman’s prosecution, from the evidentiary challenges to the trial’s impact on the UK’s medical and legal systems. Chris’s analysis sheds light on the unique issues posed by this case, including how the justice system approaches such profound breaches of trust and the reforms it inspired within both the medical and legal professions.

Crime: Are We Tough Enough - BBC1

Broadcast on BBC 1 - Original Air Date: October 2019

Across five episodes, Chris Daw KC investigates some of the toughest issues in the criminal justice system, from the impact of lengthy prison sentences to the treatment of young offenders and the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes. Each episode offers a deep dive into specific aspects of criminal justice, featuring interviews with offenders, victims, law enforcement officials, and experts who provide unique insights into the realities of the system. The series also takes viewers abroad, examining innovative crime policies in other countries, including Norway’s progressive prison model, to explore what lessons could be learned and applied in the UK.

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