Bernard Allen

B.A., P.G.C.E., D.A.E.S., M.E.W.I.

Expert Witness in cases involving education, health & safety, learning disability, behaviour management, risk management, safeguarding children & adults, balanced reduction in risk, restraint and restriction, guidance and training in personal safety and physical restraint.

His background is in psychology and his primary interest is the psychology of positive behaviour.

In 1996 he developed, wrote and produced the first video training package for schools which addressed these issues. It was called "Holding Back - restraint rarely and safely".

He went on to work with Team Teach Ltd, writing and producing training manuals, course workbooks and videos of physical techniques.

He has wide ranging experience in education and residential care settings, including a large mental hospital, a residential unit for young adults with learning disabilities and autism, and as a school principal running three successful residential and day schools for children and young people who exhibit challenging and hazardous behaviours. 

He has also advised government departments, local authorities and independent organisations on the development of policy, guidance and training. 

He served as a member of the National Advisory Group on Special Education, as a Trustee of the National Control & Restraint (General Services) Association, and a member of the expert group established by the Secretary of State for Justice to review restraint practices in Secure Training Centres, in 2016. 

His work is quoted in a number of official reports and guidance documents. He is the author of 14 books, and lectured in schools, colleges and universities providing training across the UK, Europe, Canada, Jamaica, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. He has also worked as a technical advisor for media companies producing dramas and documentaries, including the use of undercover reporters to expose malpractice.

He is currently a non-executive director of Team-Teach Ltd, one of the largest providers of training in the prevention and management of risk, restraint and restriction in the UK and abroad, and a member of the board of the Institute of Conflict Management.

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Instructing solicitors, acting as data controllers, may be required to provide personal data to expert witnesses. In such circumstances Bernard Allen, acting as data processor, will ensure that any person or organisation with whom data is shared, as a necessary requirement of the legal instruction, is also GDPR compliant. No personal data is processed or shared with any other individual or organisation, other than for the production of professional opinions and reports. All personal data is returned to the instructing solicitor for safe disposal upon completion of each case.