Dame Vera Baird DBE KC, a barrister, justice campaigner, former MP, minister and police and crime commissioner with strong North East links, will lead the reform of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) following the shocking case of Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years in jail for a crime he did not commit.
Dame Vera has been appointed by the King for a further 12 months from 9 December 2026 as interim chair of the CCRC following her initial appointment in June last year.
This would ensure, said the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), that Dame Vera would be able to lead the CCRC in implementing the recommendations of a review of the Commission’s casework which she commissioned from HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) last year and which was published on the same day as the extension of her interim appointment was announced (2 July).
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 Dame Vera’s appointment was said by the MoJ to comply 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.
The Malkinson case
In January 2025, the former chair of the CCRC resigned in the wake of the case of Andrew Malkinson, who had served 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit [a rape and attempted strangulation]. He applied twice to the CCRC for his conviction to be reviewed. On both occasions, his application was refused.
A review by the Justice Select Committee (JSC) published in May 2025 found “the CCRC’s leadership has shown a remarkable inability to learn from its own mistakes”.
On 8 June 2025, Dame Vera was appointed interim chair of the CCRC and approached HMCPSI to undertake an inspection by invitation, the aim of which was to assess the effectiveness of structures that support casework decision-making and assurance processes, to report by the end of July 2026.
Dame Vera
Dame Vera is a former practising criminal barrister. She was Labour MP for Redcar (2001-2010) Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the MoJ (2006-7) and Solicitor General (2007-2010). She was Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria (2012-19), Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (2016) and the Association’s National Lead for Supporting Victims (2012-19). She was awarded a DBE for Services to Women and Equalities in 2017 and served as Victims Commissioner for England and Wales (2019-22).
Dame Vera has honorary doctorates at Northumbria and Loughborough Universities and is Honorary Professor of Law at Exeter and Newcastle Universities. She is Honorary Fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford, Visiting Professor in Practice at the Mannheim Centre, London School of Economics, and a member of the Women’s Justice Board. She is Patron of Respect, Operation Encompass and a board member of Revolving Doors. In 2024 she published the Baird Review into Greater Manchester Police.
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