Bond Solon Reviews

A really useful day, feel more prepared for the full cross examination day!

Excellent course and trainer. I have decades of experience in LE and this is the best course covering courtroom skills that I have undertaken. The trainer was very patient and not condescending. It was interesting to see evidence given by people from outside my field of expertise.

This is the 3rd course I have attended with Bonds and have had Richard Stone for all of them. Richard is friendly, professional and considerate to everyone on the course. The days go really quick and are enjoyable, which is rare over a video call course. Thanks yet again Richard

Excellent

Richards deliver the session excellently and it is always an enjoyable and helpful day throughout. Great practice before the cross-examination day.

Very well presented course. Good opportunities for participation and discussion.

Great interactive course. Very knowledgeable and i learned a lot.

Course materials [especially the guidance on completion of the RIPA FORMS] was excellent. The trainer's presentation was very good and he was very amenable to responding to the participants questions.

This was fantastic, i hope this is available to all of our staff as i think this would be great for them due to working face to face with customers and the techniques and de-escalation tactics you have given today. I feel that i do use this in my role but it just makes you think more and about how someone might perceive what your saying in the wrong way. As for the trainer today, you was brilliant and kept people engaged with your experience and delivery of the training so thank you.

I found the Bond Solon course extremely informative, practical and well delivered. The session with Mr. Collins struck the right balance between legal framework and operational reality, particularly in relation to RIPA, directed surveillance, CHIS boundaries and Article 8 considerations. What stood out most was the emphasis on proportionality, necessity and defensibility. The trainer consistently reinforced the importance of drafting applications that can withstand judicial scrutiny, rather than simply securing authorisation. The discussion around collateral intrusion, disclosure risks, and avoiding “cut and paste” drafting was particularly valuable and immediately applicable to operational practice. The real-life examples helped clarify grey areas, especially around online activity, intrusive versus directed surveillance, and the threshold at which a voluntary informant becomes a CHIS. The session also provided useful insight into governance, renewals, reviews and cancellation responsibilities, which are often overlooked in day-to-day operational pressures. Overall, the course enhanced my understanding of how to structure applications clearly, justify necessity and proportionality properly, and anticipate potential legal challenges. It was engaging, thought-provoking and highly relevant to anyone involved in investigative or intelligence-led work.