Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 37
37
Deferred
CCRC leadership demonstrated an inability to learn from mistakes and rebuild public trust.
Conclusion
The CCRC is a hugely important organisation and the senior leadership could have done much more in their evidence to reassure us that they understood the seriousness of the criticisms it has faced and the need for an overhaul of the organisation to rebuild public trust and provide applicants to the CCRC with the justice they deserve. For an organisation that is 49 designed to identify failures within the criminal justice system, the CCRC’s leadership has shown a remarkable inability to learn from its own mistakes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 100)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees the CCRC is a hugely important organisation facing challenges in rebuilding public trust. It highlights that the interim Chair's review has a primary objective to restore public confidence and will undertake an urgent and comprehensive review of the CCRC's governance, leadership, and operational effectiveness.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Ministry of Justice agrees that the CCRC is a hugely important organisation, and that it faces significant challenges in terms of rebuilding public trust in its work. The new interim Chair’s review will cover many of the aspects the Committee has expressed concern about, and we look forward to considering Dame Vera’s views and recommendations over the coming months. The terms of reference for the interim Chair’s review explicitly state: Primary Objective: Review of the CCRC The priority of the incoming interim Chair will be to restore public confidence in the organisation and the important work it undertakes investigating potential miscarriages of justice. The postholder will undertake an urgent and comprehensive review of the CCRC including its internal governance, leadership, and the operational effectiveness of its statutory functions. This should include but not be limited to: 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. 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.