Dame Vera Baird DBE KC Appointed Interim Chair CCRC
Summary
Dame Vera Baird DBE KC has been appointed as Interim Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The appointment commences on 9 June 2025 and ends on 8 December 2026. The Lord Chancellor has requested that Dame Vera conduct a thorough review of CCRC operations to increase public confidence in the organisation. This is a routine government appointment announcement with no regulatory compliance implications for external parties.
“The appointment will commence on 9 June 2025 and will end on 8 December 2026.”
What changed
The Ministry of Justice and Criminal Cases Review Commission announce the appointment of Dame Vera Baird DBE KC as Interim Chair of the CCRC, effective 9 June 2025 for an 18-month term ending 8 December 2026. Dame Vera succeeds Helen Pitcher, who resigned on 14 January 2025. The Lord Chancellor has tasked her with conducting a thorough review of CCRC operations and increasing public confidence in the organisation.
This appointment is a routine governance event for the UK criminal justice system. It has no direct compliance implications for regulated entities, legal practitioners, or the public. The CCRC's statutory function—examining cases where miscarriages of justice are alleged in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland—continues unchanged. Interested parties may wish to monitor CCRC publications for any operational changes resulting from Dame Vera's announced review.
Archived snapshot
Apr 20, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
News story
Dame Vera Baird DBE KC appointed as Interim Chair of the CCRC
Dame Vera Baird DBE KC has been appointed as the Interim Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).
From: Ministry of Justice and Criminal Cases Review Commission Published 3 June 2025
His Majesty the King, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, has approved the appointment of Dame Vera Baird DBE KC as the Interim Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The appointment will commence on 9 June 2025 and will end on 8 December 2026. The CCRC Chair role has been vacant since Helen Pitcher’s resignation on 14 January 2025.
The Lord Chancellor has requested that Dame Vera carry out a thorough review of the operation of the CCRC, to increase public confidence in the organisation and the important work it undertakes investigating potential miscarriages of justice.
In order to bring stability to the organisation at this crucial time it was important to ensure that the post holder was an exceptional individual with sound knowledge and experience of examining the criminal justice system and a strong track record of leadership.
The CCRC
The CCRC was established by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 and commenced operation in 1997. The CCRC considers - on application - cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland where a miscarriage of justice is alleged or suspected. The CCRC decides if there is any new evidence or new argument which raises a real possibility that an appeal court would quash a conviction or reduce a sentence.
The appointment of the CCRC Chair is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and this appointment complies with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments.
Appointments of CCRC Commissioners are made by His Majesty the King on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, who receives advice from the Lord Chancellor.
Biography
Dame Vera Baird DBE KC’s biography is as follows:
- Member of the Women’s Justice Board
- Visiting Professor in Practice at the Mannheim Centre, London School of Economics
- Honorary Fellow of St Hilda’s College Oxford
- Hon Professor of Law at Exeter and Newcastle Universities
- Hon Doctorates at Northumbria and Loughborough Universities
- Former Victims Commissioner for England and Wales (2019-22)
- DBE for Services to Women and Equalities 2017
- Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria (2012-19)
- Chair of Association of Police and Crime Commissioners 2016
- Association of PCCs’ National lead for Supporting Victims (2012-19)
- Solicitor General for England and Wales (2007-2010)
- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice (2006-7)
- Member of Parliament for Redcar 2001-2010
- Former Practising Criminal Barrister and QC
- Author of many articles, chapters & reports, most recently The Baird Review into Greater Manchester Police.
- Patron of Respect, Operation Encompass and Board Member of Revolving Doors Dame Vera Baird DBE KC has declared the following political activity on behalf of the Labour Party: public speaking, Chair of the Women’s Branch Hornsey and Friern Barnet Constituency (HFBC), member of the HFBC Fabian Society, member of the Labour Women’s Network and campaigning in elections.
Share this page
The following links open in a new tab
Updates to this page
Published 3 June 2025
Named provisions
Related changes
Get daily alerts for UK Criminal Cases Review Commission
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Source
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from MOJ/CCRC.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when UK Criminal Cases Review Commission publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.