Dara Islam is a determined and passionate advocate, whose practice extends across London, Essex and East Anglia. He enjoys appearing for both the prosecution and the defence, with particular experience of dealing with violent, dishonest and serious drug offences.
He has prosecuted for the Crown Prosecution Service (being a Grade 2 CPS Prosecuting Advocate), the RSPCA, the National Probation Service and Local Authorities. He has also been instructed by the Department of Health (MHRA) as second junior, led by Andrew Marshall and Gillian Jones in Europe’s largest counterfeit medicines conspiracy.
Dara is currently on secondment to the UK Border Agency Organised Crime Division.
Some recent cases
Fraud
- R v Gillespie and four others (Nov 2010 to April 2011) Croydon Crown Court - Instructed by the MHRA as the second junior in a counterfeit medicines conspiracy
- R v Asil Nadir (2011) - Central Criminal Court - Instructed by the SFO as disclosure counsel in a £383 million fraud involving allegations of theft from Polly Peck International PLC, between 1987-1990.
- Operation Ruthenium (2010) - Instructed by the SFO as independent counsel, as part of a team of lawyers to review pre charge digital material subject to a claim of Legal Professional Privilege.
- R v Davenport, Riley and Others (2010) Southwark Crown Court - Instructed by the SFO as disclosure counsel in the prosecution of a £4million Advance Fee and Ramping Fraud against ‘Lord Davenport’ and his aides. The disclosure exercise involved the review of over one million pages of digital material on Autonomy Introspect.
Drugs - Defence
- R v Islam and 8 others (January 2012) Blackfriars Crown Court – Instructed to defend a male charged with conspiracy to smuggle prohibited List A and B items into a prison estate.
- R v Islam and another (September 2011) St Albans Crown Court - Instructed to defend a male charged with conspiracy to supply 2 kilograms of cannabis
- R v Hussain and two others (2011) Southwark Crown Court - SERCO Prison Custody Officer charged with conspiracy to smuggle prohibited List A and B items into a prison estate and Misconduct in a Public Office over 12 months. Defendant received 30 months imprisonment.
- R v Rahim and six others (2011) Snaresbrook Crown Court – 17-year-old charged with 10 counts of supplying Class A drugs to an undercover police officer. Defendant arrested following a joint Tower Hamlets Council and Police operation. Defendant was 18 at the time of sentence and received a Community Order.
- R v M (2010) Birmingham Crown Court – 15-year-old London boy charged with possession with intent to supply 4 kilograms of heroin in the Midlands, valued at £200,000. After careful mitigation the defendant received a Youth Rehabilitation Order.
Drugs - Prosecution
- R v Meek and Ekhator (2010) Ipswich Crown Court - Defendants charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin in the Suffolk area. South London defendant befriends local disabled defendant and uses his flat as a base for selling drugs.
- R v Perry (2009) Basildon Crown Court - Possession with intent to supply cannabis.
Violence - Defence
- R v Miah (November 2011) Snaresbrook Crown Court – Instructed to defend a male of good character charged with false imprisonment and ABH
- R v Sunnucks and another (October 2011) Kingston Crown Court – Instructed to defend a young man of good character charged with Robbery at knife point.
- R v Mustopha and 2 others (2010) Inner London Crown Court – 17-year-old youth charged with the robbery of an elderly woman, at knifepoint. Following numerous disclosure requests the Crown were persuaded to review their case and a week before trial offered no evidence.
- R v Skipper & 5 others (2009) Chelmsford Crown Court - Youth charged as part of a multi-handed affray. Defendants unanimously acquitted after trial.
- R v Slavin (2009) Kingston Crown Court - Aggravated burglary against former boss, victim’s young daughter and partner at home.
Violence - Prosecution
- R v Rodriguez and two others (2010) Chelmsford Crown Court - Robbery involving a BB gun.
- R v Overton (2010). Southend Crown Court - S. 18 wounding of a love rival.
- R v Dunne (2010) Ipswich Crown Court - S. 18 wounding of a neighbour. Defendant received a substantial custodial sentence.
- R v Young (2009) Chelmsford Crown Court – ABH. Bottling a night club bouncer. Defendant convicted after trial and received an immediate sentence of imprisonment.
- R v Turrant (2009) Basildon Crown Court - Attacking a train passenger with a rock. Defendant received a substantial custodial sentence.
International Experience
During 2007 and 2008, Dara worked as a Consultant for the Justice component of the British Council “Security Justice and Growth” Programme in Nigeria. He created an online legal research and basic IT course, and during his two visits, trained 80 lecturers at the Nigerian Law School across its four campuses in Abuja, Kano, Enugu and Lagos. The project helped secure US$500,000 for ongoing training from the World Bank.
In 2005, Dara spent two months in the Philippines on a capital punishment internship. Based at the Institute of Human Rights at the University of Philippines, he worked closely with local Attorneys and NGOs on appeals for prisoners on death row.
Dara has also previously attended advocacy training with the Jamaican Bar Association and Gray’s Inn, in Kingston, Jamaica.
Books and Articles
- “The Education of a Pupil”. The Circuiteer Magazine. South Eastern Circuit. Spring 2007.
- “Causing Death by Dangerous Driving”. Road Traffic Encyclopaedia Updater. May 2007.
- Dara was credited for his research in Smith & Hogan Criminal Law (11 and 12th edn) and in Rook and Ward on Sexual Offences (3rd edn) and the first supplement.
Languages
- Sylheti (fluent)
- Arabic (basic)
Dara joined Chambers in 2008 following successful completion of 12 months' pupillage at 18 Red Lion Court. He was supervised by David Holborn and Samantha Leigh.
- 2004 LLM
- 2002 Call to the Bar
- 2001 LLB
