Former Victim's Commissioner and Defence KC appointed to provide strong leadership to miscarriage of justice investigator
Dame Vera Baird DBE KC has been appointed as interim chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to provide hands on governance and strong leadership.
- Dame Vera Baird DBE KC appointed as interim chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)
- Urgent review ordered to restore public confidence in the organisation
- Justice for the wrongfully convicted vital to Government’s Plan for Change
Dame Vera Baird DBE KC has today (3 June) been appointed as the interim Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).
Her appointment marks the Lord Chancellors determination to ensure the CCRC is effectively delivering its vital function investigating potential miscarriages of justice and bringing justice to those who have been wrongly convicted.
The Chair of the CCRC is responsible for leading the board, setting the vision and core purpose of the organisation, maintaining public trust and confidence by being a visible, effective advocate and ambassador, and supporting their leadership. Dame Vera will provide hands on governance and strong leadership in the role.
The Lord Chancellor has also tasked Dame Vera with undertaking an urgent review into the running of the CCRC, ensuring lessons have been learned from the handling of previous cases and that the public can have confidence in the organisation again.
Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, said:
Miscarriages of justice have a devastating and life-long impact.
The organisation tasked with uncovering them must earn back the public’s trust in the justice system, vital to our Plan for Change.
Dame Vera will bring strong leadership to the Criminal Cases Review Commission - I want her review to restore its role uncovering and rectifying historical injustices.
Dame Vera has been tasked with reviewing the governance and leadership within the CCRC, and its capability in investigating potential miscarriages of justice. The impact of the organisation’s internal culture will be evaluated, as well as the value for money it delivers for the taxpayer.
Dame Vera, as a former defender and Victims Commissioner, understands the criminal justice system from all sides and is a long-standing advocate for fairness and justice.
Dame Vera Baird said:
When the justice system makes mistakes, as all human institutions do, from time to time, the role of the CCRC is crucial in uncovering them – providing the only lifeline available for the wrongfully convicted.
It is vital the public can have confidence in an organisation whose constitutional importance is so central to a fair and just system.
I look forward to working alongside the many hardworking and dedicated members of staff to restore that confidence, ensuring recommendations stemming from multiple reviews over the last decade are being effectively implemented, as well as identifying further areas for improvement.
Dame Vera’s term will run from June 2025 to December 2026 ahead of a permanent appointment being made. In addition to delivering the review, the interim Chair is responsible for setting the direction of the CCRC and communicating progress with the Government – particularly in light of Chris Henley KC’s 2024 report which made major recommendations following the handling of Andrew Malkinson’s case.
The review will include but not be limited to:
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Effectiveness: The extent to which the organisation is operating effectively to deliver the CCRC’s statutory responsibilities, including the understanding and application of the ‘real possibility’ test, and the CCRC’s processes for oversight and quality control of casework.
- Performance: To evaluate the CCRC’s performance, assess whether the appropriate Key Performance Indicators and targets are in place, and ensure effective strategies and action plans are in place and implemented to improve performance. Additionally, an assessment of the robustness of the management information provided by the CCRC to its departmental sponsor, ensuring it enables effective oversight and assurance on behalf of the Principal Accounting Officer and Ministers.
- Governance: To evaluate the effectiveness of the organisation’s governance, including its structure and operational efficiency, and the effectiveness of the structural relationship between the Commissioners, the Body Corporate, the Board, and the Executive.
- Culture: To review the culture of the organisation, in particular in its approach to and interactions with applicants, potential applicants and their representatives.
- Capability: An evaluation of the senior leadership team should also be conducted to identify areas where further support or strengthening is needed, in order restore public confidence.
- Funding: To assess whether the CCRC provides value for money within its current funding levels and ensure that the funds are used effectively to achieve high-quality outcomes. To rigorously evaluate whether the CCRC delivers value for money within its existing funding envelope, ensuring that it is utilised efficiently to achieve high-quality outcomes. This assessment will focus on maximising current resources.