Appointment: Assistant Surveillance Commissioner
The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of the Assistant Surveillance Commissioner.
The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of His Honour David Hodson as an Assistant Surveillance Commissioner for a term of 3 years from 1 May 2013.
Biographical Notes
His Honour David Hodson (70) was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1966. He was appointed as a Recorder in 1983, as a Circuit Judge in 1987. He was appointed as a Senior Circuit Judge and Honorary Recorder of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1997 and retired in 2010. He was appointed the Chancellor of the Diocese of Newcastle in 2009, expiring on 31 August 2013.
Notes for editors
Section 63 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 provides for the Prime Minister to appoint Assistant Surveillance Commissioners. An Assistant Surveillance Commissioner must be a person who holds, or has held, office as a judge of the Crown Court or a Circuit Judge; a Sheriff in Scotland; or a county court judge in Northern Ireland.
Assistant Surveillance Commissioners assist the Chief Surveillance Commissioner (CSC) in his duty to keep under review the exercise and performance of functions under Part II of RIPA by specified public authorities other than the law enforcement agencies.
Assistant Surveillance Commissioners are responsible for:
- assisting the CSC in his duty to keep under review the use and conduct of directed surveillance and of covert human intelligence sources (CHIS) by specified public authorities
- examining the practices and procedures used and the records kept by the specified public authorities in connection with these authorisations
- reviewing authorisations, reviews, renewals, and cancellations of authorisations
There are 3 Assistant Surveillance Commissioners.