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#1998

22-715: Since 2019 the Investigatory Powers Commissioner has been Sir Brian Leveson . The role of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner was created in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 in order to provide independent oversight of the use of investigatory powers. It merged the previous offices of the Office of the Surveillance Commissioners, the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office and

44-827: A circuit of the General Council of the Bar and English judiciary . The Northern Circuit stretches from Carlisle in Cumberland at its northernmost point, running through Lakeland to the port of Whitehaven in the West, on through Preston and Burnley in Lancashire to Manchester , Liverpool and Chester . It has chambers in Cheshire , Liverpool, Manchester, and Preston. It dates from 1176 when Henry II sent his judges on circuit to do justice in his name. The Circuit originally encompassed

66-528: A Judicial Commissioner. The Current DIPC is Sir John Goldring (Who appointed) Liz Truss Brian Leveson Sir Brian Henry Leveson ( / ˈ l ɛ v ɪ s ən / LEV -iss-ən ; born 22 June 1949) is a retired English judge who is the current Investigatory Powers Commissioner , having previously served as the President of the Queen's Bench Division and Head of Criminal Justice. Leveson chaired

88-582: Is Jaime Hamilton KC, elected in 2022. Other members with leadership roles include: There have been a number of famous members, such as F. E. Smith (later to become Lord Birkenhead ), Lord Shawcross QC (Leading Counsel at the Nuremberg Trials after World War II) and George Carman QC . Since 1876 the Circuit which presently comprises 10 per cent of the Bar has produced the following judges: In 2001, one Law Lord , three Lord Justices of Appeal (including

110-608: Is available online. In 2013 Leveson was appointed as Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University , taking over from Brian May , who stepped down at the end of his term. In 2019, Leveson was appointed as the Investigatory Powers Commissioner , and re-appointed for a further three-year term in October 2022. Leveson and his wife Lynne (daughter of Aubrey Fishel, also from Liverpool) are Jewish . The couple have three children. In 1986, Leveson took silk and

132-714: The public inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press , prompted by the News of the World phone hacking affair . Leveson was born in Liverpool , on 22 June 1949. He was educated at Liverpool College , a then public school in Mossley Hill , Liverpool. He studied at Merton College, Oxford and was President of the Oxford Law Society . Leveson was called to

154-600: The Bar at Middle Temple in 1970. He initially practised in Liverpool and became Queen's Counsel in 1986. Leveson became a bencher in 1995, acted as a Recorder between 1988 and 2000, and as a Deputy High Court Judge between 1998 and 2000. In 2000, Leveson was appointed as a Judge of the High Court, Queen's Bench Division, and served as a Presiding Judge of the Northern Circuit between 2002 and 2005. In 2006, Leveson

176-659: The IPCO oversee include various other Police, Law Enforcement Agencies and public authorities. The Investigatory Powers Commissioner is assisted in their role by Judicial Commissioners, to be appointed as a Judicial Commissioner a person must have held Judicial High Office, as outlined under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 . There are currently 14 Judicial Commissioners in the IPCO. The IPC may appoint no more than two Judicial Commissioners to serve as Deputy Investigatory Powers Commissioner, while being DIPC they continue to be

198-705: The Intelligence Service Commissioner’s Office into one office with oversight over these areas along with the Office for Communications Data Authorisations. the first IPC, Sir Adrian Fulford was appointed in 2017. The Investigatory Powers Commissioner is appointed by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a term of 3 years, which can be renewed, they are typically a former or current Senior Judge. The Investigatory Powers Commissioner and their Office carry out their functions of ensuring

220-566: The Vice President of the Court of Appeal , Criminal Division), one Lady Justice of Appeal and 12 High Court Judges were members of the Northern Circuit. In 1994, of the five female High Court Judges, four were Northern Circuiteers. Rose Heilbron QC was the first female High Court judge from the Circuit, 20 years earlier. There have been other members who have attained fame outside the law –

242-406: The internet . He sentenced 100-year-old Bernard Heginbotham, who was found guilty of manslaughter of his wife of 67 years, 87-year-old Ida, to a 12-month rehabilitation order. He also presided over the trial of two men who were found guilty in 2005 of murdering Anthony Walker with an axe. He was one of the judges in the appeal of Ruth Ellis in 2003 who said that the appeal was without merit. It

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264-405: The power to inspect the use of investigatory powers of public bodies authorised to use them. Each inspection team is heading by a Chief Inspector. Agencies wishing to use certain intrusive investigatory powers such as Targeted Interception and Intrusive Surveillance require the authorisation of a Judicial Commissioner of the IPCO, this is known as the "Double-lock" and ensures a check and balance on

286-561: The territory of the newly formed North-Eastern Circuit . The two circuits have maintained strong links. In 1876, 62 members of the Bar had chambers on the circuit. There were 29 in Liverpool, 32 in Manchester and 1 solitary practitioner in Preston. Today the circuit has a membership of some 1100 barristers of whom about 77 are Queen's Counsel , practising from chambers in Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Chester . The current circuit leader

308-421: The use of intrusive investigatory powers. Any warrant issued by a Secretary of State, Minister or Chief Officer authorising the surveillance or interception of information must be approved by a Judicial Commissioner from the IPCO, and must meet the criteria necessary to authorise the warrant. Their remit extends to the oversight of investigatory powers of over 600 UK public bodies including: Other public bodies

330-668: The use of investigatory powers used by public authorities are lawful and necessary, independently of the Government and although it works closely with it is not part of the Home Office, However funding for IPCO is made available by the Home Secretary . The Commissioners annual report is submitted directly to the Prime Minister. As part of the oversite powers of the IPC and their Office they have

352-612: The whole of the North of England. In 1863, Yorkshire was transferred to the Midland Circuit. In 1873, Durham and Lancashire were added, following the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1873. In 1876, the Circuit was divided in two. That part to the west of the Pennines (Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire) retained the old name. The land to the east (Northumberland, Yorkshire and Durham) became

374-535: Was announced on 13 July 2011 that Leveson would lead the public inquiry into issues of British press culture, practices and ethics raised by the News International phone hacking scandal . On 20 July, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the scope of the inquiry had widened to include the BBC and social media. The hearings began on Monday 14 November 2011. The full report was published on 29 November 2012 and

396-498: Was appointed Queens Counsel granting him the Suffix of 'QC', upon appointment as a Judge the suffix was no longer used. Leveson was appointed a Knight Bachelor in 2001, by Queen Elizabeth II granting him the title of 'Sir'. In 2006 Leveson was sworn as a Privy Counsellor which grants him the Style 'The Right Honourable' for life. Northern Circuit The Northern Circuit is

418-406: Was appointed to the new position of Deputy Senior Presiding Judge and, on 2 October 2006, he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal . He was promoted to Senior Presiding Judge with effect from 1 January 2007. On 1 October 2013, Leveson was appointed President of the Queen's Bench Division , succeeding Sir John Thomas . He was Treasurer of Middle Temple for the year 2020. In 1989 Leveson

440-552: Was as a result changed from an "indeterminate sentence" to a "determinate term" of 16 years imprisonment, later committed the 2019 London Bridge stabbing . While sitting with Lord Justice Mantell In the Court of Appeal in 2002 under the Lord Chief Justice , Lord Woolf , he upheld the murder conviction of James Hanratty . He also presided over the trial of ex-US Marine Toby Studebaker for charges relating to child grooming over

462-652: Was sentenced to Life in Prison with a whole life order imposed. In November 2007, the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal, constituted by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales , Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers , Leveson and Mr Justice Simon , quashed the conviction of Barry George and ordered a retrial in relation to the murder in 2001 of BBC presenter Jill Dando . He was one of three judges who heard an appeal in 2013 by several men who had admitted terrorist offences. One of them, Usman Khan , whose sentence

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484-454: Was the lead prosecution counsel at the trial of comedian Ken Dodd . Dodd was charged with tax evasion, but was acquitted at Liverpool Crown Court, despite seemingly strong evidence. Leveson was the lead prosecution counsel during the trial of Rosemary West (Regina vs West), who went on to be convicted for the murders of ten young women, including her own eldest daughter, in November 1995. West

#1998