John Tuckett
Biography
John Tuckett joined the Royal Navy as an Executive Officer following University specialising in, and commanding, submarines during his service. In 1991, he joined the NHS as Chief Executive of the emerging Teesside Health Authority when he spent 9 years leading a number of fundamental changes in delivering health care services.
In 2001, John became Chief Executive of a Medical Agency within the Ministry of Defence where he then led a major change programme across all Defence Medical Services.
In 2004, he moved to the Home Office and led the programme merging the Prison and Probation services together, creating the National Offender Management Service.
In 2006, he joined the Office of Government Commerce as part of the Treasury, and spent 5 years leading reviews into many of the UK Government’s largest and most complex change programmes, advising on how delivery and outcomes could be improved.
In 2011, he joined the Church of England working for the Archbishop of York where he led the establishment of a new diocese in 2014.
John became Chief Executive of the Marine Management Organisation in January 2015.
On 8 July 2019, he became the Immigration Services Commissioner.
On 3 October 2025, he took up post as the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. To ensure continuity for the Immigration Advice Authority, John will continue to serve as Immigration Services Commissioner for a short period on a part-time basis while the process for his successor is finalised.
Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration
The UK Borders Act 2007 directs the Independent Chief Inspector to monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of the immigration, asylum, nationality and customs functions carried out by the Home Secretary and by officials and others on their behalf, in particular:
- consistency of approach
- practice and procedure in making decisions
- the treatment of claimants and applicants
- certification under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and asylum act 2002 (c. 41) (unfounded claim)
- compliance with law about discrimination in the exercise of functions, including reliance on section 19D of the Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74) (exception for immigration functions)
- practice and procedure in relation to the exercise of enforcement powers (including powers of arrest, entry, search and seizure)
- practice and procedure in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of offences
- practice and procedure in relation to the conduct of criminal proceedings
- whether customs functions have been appropriately exercised by the Secretary of State and the Director of Border Revenue
- the provision of information
- the handling of complaints, and
- the content of information about conditions in countries outside the United Kingdom which the Secretary of State compiles and makes available, for purposes connected with immigration and asylum, to immigration officers and other officials
Immigration Services Commissioner
The Immigration Services Commissioner is the head of the Immigration Advice Authority and has statutory regulatory, complaint handling and law enforcement responsibilities in respect of the giving of immigration advice and services in the UK.
Previous roles in government
-
Acting Chief Executive Officer, MMO