Justice on Appeal: A Legacy of Honour, Inspiration, and Excellence

Solve Operation Westminster – Your Path to £100,000 and Justice Immortality

Unlock a 28-Year Mystery, Discover the Truth, and Carve Your Name Into the Annals of Justice

The Ultimate True Crime Challenge Awaits

Are you ready to push your investigative instincts to their limits, delve into a case riddled with secrets, and seize the opportunity to claim a life-changing reward? Operation Westminster isn’t just a competition—it’s a high-stakes quest that beckons the sharpest minds in true crime, law, and investigation to tackle the UK’s most confounding case. This annual challenge offers you the chance to make history, walk away with a remarkable £100,000, and take on the esteemed role of case review manager. Could you be the lawyer, detective or judge who finally unravels Operation Westminster?

The Case: Tragedy, Intrigue, and a Relentless Search for Justice

At the core of Operation Westminster lies a brutal murder that tore a family apart. For nearly three decades, the family of the accused have defied the passage of time, standing firm against oblivion in their pursuit of justice. Their unyielding campaign has seen them clash with police forces, outmanoeuvre legal dead ends, and confront systemic barriers that would have defeated lesser spirits.

The investigation’s murky depths saw the Essex Police embroiled in scandal, facing damning accusations of mishandling, cover-ups, and complicity, closely followed by the Metropolitan Police and other authorities. This is a tale marked by heartbreak, defiance, and an unwavering commitment to truth, with the family’s voice echoing through every chapter of the Operation Westminster saga.

The Operation Westminster Series: A Four-Book Odyssey Through Deceit and Discovery

• In The Blood – Dive headfirst into the opening investigation, where the aftermath of the crime unravels family secrets and exposes fatal flaws in the official inquiry.
• Above The Law – Journey through the corridors of power, unveiling corruption, manipulation, and the extraordinary lengths some will go to protect themselves.
• The Two Bulls – Explore the underbelly of rivalries and machinations, with new suspects and shifting motives deepening the mystery at every turn.
• The Dyslexic Carpenter – Encounter fresh perspectives, overlooked evidence, and critical witness statements that could shatter the case wide open. Here, nothing is as it seems—are you ready to challenge every assumption?

Each volume is far more than a narrative—they are intricate blueprints for your investigation, saturated with clues, contradictions, and raw human drama that demand your scrutiny and interpretation.

Unmasking Corruption: Your Guide Through the Legal Labyrinth

This is no easy whodunnit. Operation Westminster thrusts you into a world riddled with corruption and complexity, where the pursuit of truth is as twisted as the legal system itself. The case spans the entire legal spectrum—criminal justice, civil claims, data privacy, family law, and more—each layer adding to the intrigue and difficulty. As you sift through evidence and testimony, you’ll uncover tactics of sabotage: evidence tampering, threats, and relentless bureaucratic obstruction. Only those with razor-sharp logic, resourcefulness, and a keen legal mind will prevail.

How to Enter: Take the Investigation Into Your Hands

1. Access the Evidence: Immerse yourself in expertly penned books, a riveting podcast series, and a comprehensive archive brimming with real documents, photos, and recordings. Every piece brings you closer to the truth.
2. Investigate Relentlessly: Piece together the timeline, scrutinise testimonies, and dare to question established narratives. Operation Westminster rewards those who think outside the box and follow the evidence wherever it leads.
3. Submit Your Verdict: Present a detailed case review—who you believe is responsible, the mechanisms of the cover-up, and your vision of justice. File your findings before the annual deadline.

Every submission is rigorously evaluated by a panel of experts. The most insightful and compelling entry will claim the £100,000 prize and a coveted position as the next case review manager, steering the investigation’s future direction. Whether you’re a seasoned lawyer or an ardent true crime aficionado, this is your chance to have a real impact.

Will You Rise to the Challenge?

Are you content to be a spectator, or will you answer the call to expose hidden truths and deliver long-awaited justice? With every tool at your disposal and the promise of reward, Operation Westminster invites you to become the hero of a real-life thriller. Secure the books, tune into the podcasts, and prepare your submission—your insight could be the one that finally solves a 28-year mystery, earns you £100,000, and etches your name into the history of justice. The case is unresolved. The pursuit of justice is relentless. 

The next move is yours. Will you accept the challenge?

 Justice on Appeal emerged as the United Kingdom’s ‘first’ pro bono charity focusing on criminal appeals, revitalised as a limited company under the stewardship of its founder and chairman, Darren Thomas Bolger. The organisation’s inception was deeply rooted in Darren’s personal drive to overturn his younger brother’s murder conviction. Despite having no formal legal background and working as a carpenter and joiner, Darren faced considerable hurdles, particularly in accessing vital legal resources and support. The process was fraught with resistance, notably from the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) and several police forces, such as Essex Police, the Metropolitan Police, Surrey Police, West Midlands Police, and Norfolk Police.

Family-Led Investigation and Evidence Discovery

Refusing to be deterred by institutional obstacles, Darren teamed up with his mother, an accomplished genealogist and researcher, to scrutinise the case as amateur investigators. Their unwavering commitment led to the unearthing of evidence that had been manipulated and presented under questionable circumstances. This investigation revealed not only dubious practices but also blatant corruption within Essex Police.

Influence on Legal Education and Collaborative Efforts

Justice on Appeal’s establishment marked a significant milestone for individuals challenging wrongful convictions. The charity welcomed legal trainees from esteemed institutions including City Law, BPP Law School, and Bedford University of Law, giving them practical experience in reviewing real cases. Its collaborative approach united seasoned legal professionals and expert witnesses, creating a vibrant learning environment for aspiring lawyers.

One notable chapter in the charity’s history involved Gloria Morrison, who engaged Justice on Appeal to examine issues surrounding the law of Joint Enterprise. Although her involvement was shaped by her own far-left political views, she entrusted Darren with pivotal case reviews in this area.

The organisation subsequently faced attempts by Secret Services operatives to discredit its work and disrupt its evidence-based appeals. Darren countered by drafting the ‘Key Evidence’ report, which was submitted to the House of Commons Justice Committee on Joint Enterprise. Justice on Appeal’s contributions were recognised in the committee’s report, which played a role in the overturning of the Joint Enterprise law. Despite this, the group AGENdA publicly took credit for these achievements, though Justice on Appeal’s documented evidence tells a different story.

Confronting Institutional Resistance

As Darren’s investigations brought longstanding injustices within the British legal system to light, he found himself under scrutiny by the establishment. His comprehensive appeal to the CCRC on behalf of his brother exposed troubling matters: inappropriate personal-relationships between jurors and prosecution counsel, tampering with crucial blood and urine samples, fabrication of SOCA video evidence, and the existence of an Essex Police helicopter video previously denied by Essex CPS. These findings forced the CCRC to confront deep-rooted systemic issues.

It is especially significant that Ralph Barrington, then head of the CCRC, had previously worked alongside David Bright MBE, the police commander implicated in Darren’s brother’s case and related corruption.

Endurance in the Face of Adversity

Despite these revelations, systemic opposition persisted. Five senior CCRC members, including: Sally Berlin, Angela Flowers and the legal advisor John Wagstaff, made unfounded allegations against Darren to West Midlands Police. Although these accusations were dismissed as ‘No Further Action’, the CCRC continued for another seven years to press police to reopen investigations and pursue charges against Darren, seemingly aiming to stifle his advocacy.

When these efforts faltered, the Metropolitan Police shifted focus to Darren’s construction company, which funded Darren enabling him to financially support Justice on Appeal, by facilitating fraud claims from seven clients. This strategy appeared intended to disrupt, Darren and the charity’s operations and threaten its mission.

Trials, Setbacks, and Vindication

Darren faced a lengthy trial, during which crucial evidence—674 emails totalling over 2,000 pages—was introduced midway. This evidence, known and withheld by the police, offered the potential to exonerate him but was neglected by his barrister and not shown to the jury. The trial judge, Recorder Katherine Moore (Norwich), omitted references within these emails and, after a 17-week trial, replaced the original indictment directly into the bundles, remaining in the courtroom, with a new one in the absence of the jury. The resulting, failure to disclose, rejection to present key defence evidence, confusion and judicial misdirection led to Darren’s conviction.

Undeterred by these challenges, Darren ultimately restored his reputation, receiving the Badge of Honour for community service from the mayor of Wandsworth. His journey was far from straightforward; he later discovered he had been under constant surveillance and listed on the HOLMES police intelligence system, pioneered by Ralph Barrington. These developments underscored his suspicions about persistent corruption and bias within Essex Police and associated authorities.

Renewed Vision and Technological Progress

Viewing his personal struggles as part of a larger battle for justice, Darren has relaunched Justice on Appeal with renewed resolve and enhanced expertise. With the support of MAAT, an advanced AI legal assistant, the organisation is moving forward in criminal appeals and broadening its remit to include contract law, bankruptcy, health, family, and media law.

Discover Darren’s Story

For a deeper insight into Darren’s extraordinary journey, listeners can tune into his podcast, ‘The Ultimate Influencer’, or read his book series ‘Operation Westminster’, both available on Amazon. Darren’s brother, Jason Bolger, offers his perspective in ‘The Dyslexic Carpenter’, also on Amazon. Darren remains committed to exposing and challenging institutional failings, most recently confronting the CCRC, Essex Police, and the Metropolitan Police on the steps of the CCRC in May 2025.