Leadership of the Criminal Cases Review Commission

Justice Committee Open Non-inquiry session
Opened: 26 Mar 2025 Parliament page
7 Recommendations
35 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
3 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 7 events
29 Jul
2025
Report published
1 Jul
2025
Correspondence
23 May
2025
Report published
21 May
2025
Correspondence
13 May
2025
Correspondence
29 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
29 Apr
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
29 Apr 2025
View on parliament.uk
Work of the Criminal Cases Review Commission
Amanda Pearce · Criminal Cases Review Commission Karen Kneller · Criminal Cases Review Commission
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report - Leadership of the Criminal Cases Review Commission HC 749 23 May 2025 42 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
4 Conclusion Rejected
3rd Report - Leadership of the Cri…
CCRC leadership unnecessarily delayed report publication based on misunderstood election guidance.
The Committee does not understand why the CCRC would consider itself bound by the government’s General Election guidance. Even if it did consider the guidance applicable, we do not understand why applying that guidance would lead to the conclusion that … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's view, asserting that the CCRC, as an NDPB, was bound by the General Election guidance. The Ministry of Justice, with agreement from the Cabinet Office, concluded that publishing the Henley report during the pre-election period would have been contrary to the guidance's principles.
Ministry of Justice
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28 Conclusion Rejected
3rd Report - Leadership of the Cri…
CCRC's independence from the Ministry of Justice appears compromised in practice.
We are concerned about the CCRC’s independence and its relationship with the Ministry of Justice. Independence requires the chair and senior leadership to prioritise and defend the interests and constitutional functions of the institution above all. In practice, this does … Read more
Government Response
The government explains and defends the delay in publishing the Henley report, stating it adhered to pre-election guidance for NDPBs. It asserts that its relationship with the CCRC is based on the Cabinet Office's Arm's Length Body Sponsorship Code of Good Practice, effectively refuting the committee's concern about independence.
Ministry of Justice
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Government Response AI assessment · 42 of 7 classified
Accepted 10
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 14
Deferred 13
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 2
Total 7 recs + 35 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
1 Jul 2025 Correspondence from the Lord Chancellor, dated 28 June 2025: Terms of Reference for the Interim Chair's Review of the Criminal Cases Review Commission
Parliament page
21 May 2025 Correspondence to Karen Kneller, Chief Executive of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, dated 21 May 2025: Further clarification on 2023/24 'Other Expenditure'
Parliament page
13 May 2025 Correspondence from Karen Kneller, Chief Executive of the Criminal Cases Review Commission and Amanda Pearce, Casework Operations Director at the Criminal Cases Review Commission, dated 13 May 2025 relating to the oral evidence session held on 29 April 2025
Parliament page