IPCC appoints five new Commissioners
The Home Office has today (5th November 2012) announced the appointment of a five new operational Commissioners to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). Cindy Butts, Derrick Campbell, Mary Cunneen, James Dipple-Johnstone and Jennifer Izekor have been appointed for an initial four year term and will be starting at the IPCC between now and early January. They will be located in one of the IPCC’s four regional offices.
The Operational Commissioners (including the Deputy Chair) have responsibility for specific police forces which includes HMRC, SOCA and UKBA (The National Crime Agency will also come under the IPCC’s jurisdiction). As the public and independent face of the IPCC, they oversee investigations and specialise in a range of policy areas as well as working with statutory and non-statutory stakeholders to improve confidence in the complaints system. In addition, the two Non-executive Commissioners have particular responsibility for providing objective oversight and accountability for the IPCC itself. They either Chair or sit on the Commission’s Audit, Quality and Remuneration Committees. Non-executive Commissioners do not have operational responsibilities.
Commenting on the new appointments IPCC Chair, Dame Anne Owers said: “We are losing the experience of five founding Commissioners during 2013. These appointments will allow for proper processes of overlap and handover and for a comprehensive induction process for new Commissioners before they become fully operational.”
About the new IPCC Commissioners
Cindy Butts
From 2000 to 2012, Cindy Butts was an independent member of the Metropolitan Police Authority; during this period she served as its Deputy Chair for four years. During that time, she participated in many areas of police oversight, including chairing the Race and Faith inquiry into the Metropolitan Police. More recently, she has been chair of the Crown Prosecution Service Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel in London, responsible for identifying strengths and weaknesses in the prosecution of hate crimes. She has also been involved in other roles, including public sector appointment and several charity trusteeships. She brings considerable experience of independent police oversight in challenging areas. She will be full-time, working out of the Wakefield office.
Derrick Campbell
Derrick Campbell is currently Chief Executive of the Rights and Equality and community Cohesion Council and before that was CEO of Sandwell Chamber of Commerce. He has a long history of working with communities in the West Midlands, and founded and chaired Birmingham Reducing Gang Violence 3. He also, until recently chaired the National Independent Advisory Group, advising the government on violent crime, and he sits on the national DNA Database Ethics Group. He brings a wealth of experience of working with communities, including on difficult policing issues. He will be full-time, working out of the Sale office.
Mary Cunneen
From 2009 to 2012, Mary Cunneen was senior lawyer at the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Before that, she spent three years as human rights adviser at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, providing specialist advice to the department on governance and human rights issues overseas, including women’s and children’s rights. Between 2002 and 2005, she was Director of Anti-Slavery International, working in Europe and overseas, including membership of the European Commission’s Expert Group on Trafficking in Human Beings. She brings both legal and human rights experience, and while associate director at Liberty, co-authored a report on the shape and form of the IPCC. She will be full-time, working out of the London office.
James Dipple-Johnstone
James Dipple-Johnstone is currently Director of Investigations at the Office of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman where he heads the unit carrying out investigations into health service complaints, leading multi-disciplinary teams at the Office, which deals with around 25,000 cases a year. Before this, he was Senior Policy and Reconsiderations Manager at the Healthcare Commission, following a move from the Department of Health. He brings extensive experience of complaints resolution in high-volume and publicly sensitive areas, and in the way that this can assist performance and service delivery. He will be full-time, working out of the Sale office.
Jennifer Izekor
Jennifer Izekor has specialised in services for young people, learning and skills during her career. Between 2009 and 2012, she was a member of the Youth Justice Board, and advised a number of other charities and educational institutions as well as running a development consultancy focusing on youth unemployment, learning and skills development. Between 2006 and 2009, she was regional director for children and learners at the Government Office for London, leading the implementation of Every Child Matters. Before that, she set up and led London East Connexions, delivering and commissioning services for young people across ten local authorities. She brings many years' experience and understanding of issues affecting young people and communities in criminal justice. She will be part-time (4 days), working out of the London office.
