Tag: Ministry of Justice

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 January 2026.

Former court buildings in Fleetwood, Telford, Chichester and Cirencester – used as Nightingale Courts since the pandemic – will now become permanent fixtures.

• Nightingale Court era over as four temporary courts become permanent fixtures
• Next step in wider Government plans to end interminable delay for victims
• Move comes as new landmark London court readies for opening

Thousands of victims will be spared from interminable delays waiting to see justice done thanks to a significant expansion to the court’s estate. 

Former court buildings in Fleetwood, Telford, Chichester and Cirencester – used as Nightingale Courts since the Covid-19 pandemic – will now become established parts of the court estate, ending their temporary status.  

This move secures 11 additional courtrooms across the country where capacity is most needed, covering a mixture of criminal, family and civil cases – tackling the caseload and delivering swifter justice for victims. 

Today’s news comes as the Courts Minister, Sarah Sackman, visited the site of the new London Law Courts – a state-of-the-art building which, when open next year, will act as the benchmark for delivering modern, transparent and speedy justice. 

The building will provide 18 new state-of-the-art courtrooms which can hear Crown, magistrate and civil cases in the heart of London.  

As part of the core estate, these former Nightingale Courts will now qualify for future modernisation and investment. This will allow HMCTS to put money into improving their infrastructure and ensure buildings are suitable for the latest technology – speeding up justice and providing a better experience for all court users. 

Minister for Courts Sarah Sackman KC MP said: 

This marks a new chapter for these courts. We’re ending the Nightingale era and making a lasting investment in justice. The permanent courtrooms, as part of our Plan for Change, will help deliver faster justice and give much-needed clarity to victims and the staff who serve them. 

Investment matters, but it isn’t enough on its own. We must deliver bold reforms to put the broken system we inherited – on the brink of collapse – back on sustainable ground.

The move marks the end of the Nightingale courts initiative, which at its peak in July 2021 saw 60 temporary courtrooms operating in hotels, conference centres and office buildings to keep justice moving during the pandemic.   

This year alone, the Government is investing £148.5 million to repair and upgrade courts across England and Wales – tackling longstanding maintenance issues, reducing delays caused by ageing infrastructure, and improving conditions for those who rely on them. 

Alongside investment in the estate, Ministers have also increased funding for Crown Courts to sit a record 111,250 days this financial year. More sitting days means more hearings and faster justice. 

The Deputy Prime Minister has also announced a bold package of reforms to bring down the Crown Court caseload which will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 14 January 2026.

Extra specialist staff, improved training for frontline officers and bolstered anti-drone measures will be deployed at HMP Swaleside as part of Government action to urgently turn the prison around.

• New specialist staff to bolster safety and security
  
• Anti-drone measures such as new windows and netting to clamp down on illicit items
  
• Ramp up of prisoner discipline hearings to tackle bad behaviour
  
• The jail received an Urgent Notification in December, with inspectors raising concerns about high levels of violence and self-harm, the prevalence of drugs, and poor living conditions.

The Prison Service has today (14 January) published a new action plan in direct response to the notification with the aim of rapidly improving safety and standards. This includes installing new windows and netting to combat drones delivering contraband, hiring specialist search teams and dog handlers to crack down on drugs and weapons, and improved safety training for staff.

There will also be a greater focus on cleanliness with a new strategy to improve standards both inside and outside the prison, while vital maintenance and refurbishments will be completed over the coming months.

Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, said: 

The Chief Inspector’s findings at HMP Swaleside were deeply concerning and clearly not acceptable. This reflects the scale of the crisis we inherited across our prison system.

I visited the prison last week and saw firsthand the efforts of hardworking staff to deliver the necessary improvements, and this action plan will support them in this vital work.

More rule-breaking prisoners will also face consequences for their actions through a ramp up of disciplinary hearings to bring order to the prison.

Today’s announcement follows wider Government action to improve safety across the prison estate, including rolling out protective body armour to frontline officers and investing £40 million to boost security and clamp down on the contraband that fuels violence behind bars.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 January 2026.

The Deputy Prime Minister begins visit to Washington DC at the invitation of his counterpart, Vice President JD Vance, to mark America 250 celebrations.

• UK engagement in America 250 year kicks off with time capsule exchange
• Deputy PM to visit his counterpart in the White House to discuss UK-US special relationship, economic growth and long-term peace in Ukraine
• DPM to witness court reforms in Toronto that introduced judge-only trials helping speed up justice for victims

The Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, will today (Wednesday 7 January) begin a two-day visit to Washington DC at the invitation of his counterpart, Vice President JD Vance.  

The Deputy Prime Minister will kick-off UK engagement in the America 250 celebrations, as the US marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence – its semi-quincentennial. 

The Deputy Prime Minister and Vice President will discuss Europe’s role in delivering sustainable, long-term peace in Ukraine and shared endeavours to deliver jobs and economic growth both sides of the Atlantic. 

At an America 250 event in Mount Vernon, the Deputy Prime Minister will reflect on how his experiences studying and working in America shaped his own public service and look ahead to the shared future of the UK and the US.  

The Deputy Prime Minister will deliver the United Kingdom’s contribution to a time capsule, destined to be buried under the Washington Monument, as part of the celebrations. This comes the year after a sister time capsule was buried in Trafalgar Square in London.  

He will also meet young men supported by Baltimore’s Next One Up charity to become the city’s next generation of leaders, as well as the 2026 cohort of Marshall Scholars who will study postgraduate degrees in the UK during the historic America 250 Anniversary Year.

The Deputy PM is expected to speak about the strength of the special relationship, saying:  

Far from being an abstract idea, it is built through practical cooperation and shared purpose.   

In defence and security. In the trade and investment that benefit us all. In working together to secure peace and stability across the globe. And in our partnerships on emerging technologies and energy security, which will help shape the world in the decades to come.

For me, it is deeply personal influenced by my own history in your country. First, studying in Massachusetts and then working in California. Opportunities here which enabled me, in turn, to serve the public of my own country.

So today is very much about history but it is also about looking to the future.  

The 250th anniversary of your independence in July and events which will showcase this great nation and the huge amount it has to offer the world.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin and US Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum will be joined at Mount Vernon by students who had winning entries in Virginia’s statewide ‘Expressions of Freedom’ student competition included in the contents of the Time Capsule. 

The Time Capsule – designed by architect Lord Norman Foster – will contain instructions to be reopened on 4th July 2276. The Deputy Prime Minister will gift the US Government with the Portland limestone Capstone – made from one of the original steps of the George Washington Statue plinth in London – which is inscribed with thirteen six-pointed stars replicating the design of George Washington’s famous Headquarters Flag.    

During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister is also expected to meet US Supreme Justice Elena Kagan at the Supreme Court and members of Congress on Capitol Hill. 

Following the Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to Washington DC he will travel to Toronto to gather vital information on how judge-alone trials operate in Ontario and what lessons could be learnt for court reform in England and Wales. He will discuss how the system works with senior members of the judiciary and the Attorney General of Ontario, Doug Downey.

Background information

• The America 250 programme encourages Americans to reflect on their history and renew their commitment to the ideals of democracy. You can find out more about the America 250 programme of activity here.  
• Photos of the Deputy Prime Minister attending the ceremony at Mount Vernon and meeting with the Vice President are available on request.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 3 January 2026.

Thousands of ordinary people from all walks of life are being called on by the Government today (3 January) to volunteer their time to delivering justice by becoming a magistrate.

• Everyday heroes from all backgrounds wanted to deliver justice in local communities across the country 
• Over 2,000 magistrates recruited in the last three years  
• Part of Government’s Plan for Change to deliver swifter justice for victims and to protect the public

Over 2,000 extra magistrates have been trained since 2022 and this new, ambitious recruitment drive aims to boost the magistracy by the same number again in just the next financial year.  

Magistrates are representative of the communities they serve. Latest figures show that 57% of magistrates are female and 14% come from an ethnic minority background, with London having the highest proportion of magistrates from an ethnic minority background at 31%. 

Magistrates play a vital role in delivering justice locally. They are all volunteers and are expected to dedicate a minimum of 13 days a year to sitting on cases, meaning many magistrates can fulfil this crucial role easily alongside full-time employment and caring responsibilities.  

Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, said: 

Magistrates play a vital role in our court system – hearing thousands of cases across every jurisdiction and delivering justice. 

They are everyday heroes – and we need more people of every age and background to volunteer not just to deliver justice but to serve and represent their local communities.   

Volunteering to become a magistrate can make a real difference to your life and the lives of others – that’s why I’m calling on the public to apply and play your part.

New research shows that 45 percent of people in England and Wales would consider volunteering in the next 12 months.

The Ministry of Justice has launched a new call for people across England and Wales to volunteer and help deliver swifter justice for victims.   

All magistrates are given robust training and an experienced mentor in their first year to develop their skills and legal knowledge.

They are also supported with specialist legal advisors to allow them to deal with a range of cases. The top qualities that the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary look for in potential candidates are good communication skills, a sense of fairness and the ability to see an argument from different sides. Candidates are being sought to fill positions across all jurisdictions including criminal work, youth cases, as well as certain civil and family proceedings.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 10 December 2025.

A joint statement delivered to today’s meeting of the Justice Ministers of the Council of Europe (Wednesday 10 December), signed by 27 countries including the UK.

The following States: Denmark, Italy, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom aligned to this Statement reaffirm their strong belief in the Council of Europe and in European values, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. We are committed to international law and to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (hereinafter “the Convention”) as a cornerstone of this international order, and we reaffirm our commitment to the Convention and our support for the work and independence of the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Court”) and its jurisdiction as defined in the Convention.Recalling the Reykjavik Declaration, we reaffirm our commitment to the concept of “democratic security”.

Our governments have a duty to guarantee our populations’ human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to live in peace, freedom and security, to preserve the values of our societies, and to effectively protect borders, prevent unlawful border crossings and counter migrant smuggling networks. Yet, the rights and freedoms of our populations are challenged by: people who take advantage of our hospitality by committing serious crime; trafficking in human beings and instrumentalisation of migrants.

These complex and disruptive challenges – that our societies face and which test the capacity of our current framework – were either unforeseen at the time the convention system and the Convention were drafted or have evolved significantly since then. When addressing these challenges in full compliance with international law, States have a fundamental duty to safeguard national security, protect our democracies, and ensure the security of individuals within our jurisdictions. Failing to recognise and respond to these challenges, we risk undermining the very fundamental rights and freedoms that the Convention protects, thereby eroding confidence in the whole Convention system.

Noting the letter signed on 22 May 2025 by a group of Heads of State and Government, which initiated this process that has since evolved through broad and inclusive engagement, we are therefore promoting an open and constructive discussion within the Council of Europe and with its Secretary-General to develop an adequate response to protect the Convention system from attempts to distort and weaken it. We appreciate and welcome the Secretary General’s openness and contribution in facilitating this important dialogue, while fully respecting the Convention system and the integrity of the Court.

In addressing under the Convention, the challenges in expulsion of foreign criminals, migration management and cooperation with third countries regarding asylum and return procedures, as well as removal procedures and instrumentalisation of migration, a right balance has to be found between the migrants’ individual rights and interests and the weighty public interests of defending freedom and security in our societies.

In this context, States aligned to this statement consider it imperative to ensure that the Convention framework is fit to address today’s challenges, most notably in order to meet the following challenges:

• Expulsion of foreigners convicted of serious crimes: The clear starting point is that a State Party can expel foreigners convicted of serious crimes even though they have acquired ties to their host Country, e.g. if they have established a family life there. In line with the principles in this statement, it is vital that the balance between individual rights and legitimate aims as per Article 8 of the Convention is adjusted so that more weight is put on the nature and seriousness of the offence committed and less weight is put on the foreign criminal’s social, cultural, and family ties with the host Country and with the Country of destination. The purpose of such a rebalancing is to ensure that we no longer see instances where foreigners convicted of serious crime, including serious violent crime, sexual assault, organised crime and human and drug trafficking, cannot be expelled.
• Clarity about inhuman and degrading treatment: The scope of “inhuman and degrading treatment” under Article 3, which is an absolute right, should be constrained to the most serious issues in a manner which does not prevent State Parties from taking proportionate decisions on the expulsion of foreign criminals, or in removal or extradition cases, including in cases raising issues concerning healthcare and prison conditions.
• Innovative and durable solutions to address migration: A State Party should not be prevented from entering into cooperation with third countries regarding asylum and return procedures, once the human rights of irregular migrants are preserved.
• Decision-making in migration cases: A State Party should not be prevented from applying clear rules and processes to facilitate timely decisions under Article 8 that can then be enforced, and which reflect the appropriate balance between the individual’s rights and the public interest.
• Instrumentalisation of migration: Recognising the extremely sensitive geopolitical context and the need to properly ensure national security and public safety, including in cases where human rights and fundamental freedoms are subject to abuse and instrumental use by hostile regimes and individual applicants with ulterior motives, with an adverse effect on the Convention system.

In addressing these challenges, the States aligned to this Statement refer to the importance of the following key principles in the interpretation and application of the Convention:

• The States’ right, as a matter of well-established international law and subject to their Treaty obligations, to control the entry, residence, and expulsion of foreigners from their territories, which should guide the interpretation of the Convention;
• The principle of subsidiarity, by which the primary responsibility for ensuring the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Convention and its Protocols lies with the States Parties to the Convention, which enjoy a margin of appreciation in doing so;
• The principle of shared responsibility by which it is primarily for the State Parties themselves, through their national courts and within the margin of appreciation defined by the Court, to ensure compliance with the guarantees of the Convention and to prevent the Court from becoming a fourth instance;
• The principle of proportionality, by balancing the protection of rights with safeguarding national security and protecting public safety and order, ascribing adequate weight to these values;
• The de minimis principle, which must be given uniform effect;
• The “living instrument” doctrine taking appropriate account of the developments, both factual and legal, that have evolved significantly in recent decades and were unforeseen at the time the Convention was drafted;
• The concept of “democracy capable of defending itself” preventing abuse of fundamental rights and freedoms by hostile regimes or individual applicants with ulterior motives.

The States aligned to this Statement welcome the 4-point proposal by the Council of Europe’s Secretary-General including to adopt a declaration on migration and the Convention at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting on 15th May 2026 in Chișinău (Moldova) and remain ready to work constructively with the Council of Europe, and in the case of EU Member States, whilst paying due consideration to the implications in relation to EU initiatives and applicable EU law.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 9 December 2025.

The Secretary of State has approved the appointment of Her Honour Anne Molyneux MBE as the Vice Chair of the Parole Board.

The Secretary of State for Justice has approved the appointment of Her Honour Anne Molyneux MBE as a judicial member of the Parole Board for a 5-year term from 6 December 2025. In addition, the Chair of the Parole Board, Alexandra Marks CBE, has designated Her Honour Anne Molyneux MBE as the Board’s Vice Chair.

The Vice Chair will be expected to share in the leadership and governance of the Parole Board.

The Parole Board is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). It works with its criminal justice partners to protect the public by risk assessing prisoners to decide whether they can be safely released into the community. It was established by the Criminal Justice Act 1967.

Appointments and re-appointments to the Parole Board (with the exception of Judicial members) are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Biography

Her Honour Anne Molyneux MBE was a Circuit Judge from 2007 to 2017; a Senior Circuit Judge, Central Criminal Court, from 2017 to 2022; and a Deputy High Court Judge, from 2013 until 2022. She also sat as an Additional Judge in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1983 and was a Recorder from 2000 until 2007. In 2024 she was appointed as a trustee and member of the Board of the Access to Justice Foundation as the nominee of the Lady Chief Justice. She was an Independent member for the Parole Board (2003 – 2007) and later a Judicial member (2010 – 2019).

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 9 December 2025.

The Secretary of State for Justice has announced the appointment of Mark Hamilton as member of the Prison Service Pay Review Body.

Mark Hamilton’s appointment will be for a tenure of 5 years from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2030.

The PSPRB provides the government with independent advice on the remuneration of operational prison staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as set out in The Prison Service (Pay Review Body) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 1161).   

Appointments to the PSPRB are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. This appointment has been made in line with the Commissioner’s Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies.

Public appointments to the PSPRB are made by the Prime Minister.

Mark Hamilton Biography:

Mark Hamilton’s career in policing began in 1994 with the Royal

Ulster Constabulary. He became the Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in January 2020.

Mark’s tenure included significant responsibilities such as overseeing operational policing, professional standards and leading police reform in Northern Ireland. He was recognised with the title of Office of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 2019 Birthday Honours.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 December 2025.

Criminal legal aid solicitors will receive up to £92 million more a year to help address the ongoing challenges in the criminal justice system.

• Government confirms up to £92 million investment in criminal legal aid after years of neglect
• New funding for housing and immigration fees to help rebuild the justice system
• Part of government’s Plan for Change to transform the justice system and deliver swifter justice for victims

Victims will get swifter access to justice as the Government confirms up to an additional £92m per year boost for criminal legal aid solicitors, Courts Minister Sarah Sackman announced today (Monday 1 December).

The investment will tackle years of neglect and build a stronger and more sustainable legal aid sector that works for those who serve within it – and those victims and defendants who depend on it.

This investment lays the groundwork for longer-term reform to the justice system to get cases moving through the courts and ensure swifter justice for victims – with further updates expected later this week.

Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC MP, said:    

Our legal aid system has been left neglected. This multimillion-pound investment is crucial to keeping the wheels of justice turning – it supports the professionals keeping the system running, the victims waiting for answers, and all those who need access justice.

We know that justice delayed is justice denied. That is why we’re investing in the criminal justice system. Getting the legal aid sector back on a sustainable footing is vital to restoring the public’s confidence in our justice system

Once fully implemented, criminal legal aid solicitors will have received a 24% overall uplift in funding since the 2021 Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR).

Criminal solicitors have been waiting years for a pay rise and now they will finally feel the fee increases which will support their vital work to keep the wheels of our criminal justice system turning.

Alongside this, the Government is also uplifting housing and immigration legal aid fees by 18 million a year – the first major civil legal aid fee increase since 1996.

An additional two million for licensed housing and immigration work will be delivered separately and as soon as possible. An injection of £20 million will support some of the most vulnerable people in society, including those at risk of losing their home and victims of modern slavery. The investment will also help to reduce the asylum backlog and end the use of asylum hotels.

The majority of these crime and civil changes will come into effect on 22 December 2025 – ensuring hardworking practitioners are properly paid for the vital work they do.

Legal aid plays a crucial role in our justice system, supporting some of the most complex cases that go through our courts. Our Plan for Change is making the justice system fair, accessible and fit for purpose.

This funding supports our wider reform of the criminal justice system. The government will soon publish its response to Part 1 of Sir Brian Leveson’s independent review, which recommends bold and ambitious reforms to clear the escalating court backlog and deliver swifter justice for victims.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 25 November 2025.

The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointments of 46 Parole Board members, as set out below, and the appointment of 2 psychologist members.

Parole Board members are appointed, by ministers, under Schedule 19 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The appointment of Parole Board members – save for judicial members – is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments (CPA). Recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The Parole Board is an independent body that works with its criminal justice partners to protect the public by risk assessing prisoners to decide whether they can be safely released into the community.

The Parole Board was established by the Criminal Justice Act 1967. It is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice.

Appointment of psychologist members

The following members have been appointed for a 5-year term from 4 November 2025 until 3 November 2030:

• Laura Magness
• Kirsty Butcher

Reappointment of existing members

The reappointments of 46 Parole Board members have been approved. Details of those reappointed and the duration of each reappointment are provided below.

Psychologist members

The following member has been reappointed for a further term of 6 years from 1 December 2025 until 30 November 2031:

• Rebecca Milner

The following members have been reappointed for a further term of 5 years from 1 February 2026 until 31 January 2031:

• Dee Anand
• Caroline Flowers
• Sian Hughes
• Alexander Jack
• Laura Jacobs
• Sally Lopresti
• Frances Maclennan
• Louise Minchin
• Samantha Salamat
• Carolyn Scott

The following member has been reappointed for a further term of 5 years from 1 May 2026 until 30 April 2031:

• Sarah Jones

The following members have been reappointed for a further term of 6 years from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2032:

• Fiona Ainsworth
• Pamela Attwell
• Rachel Roper
• Georgina Rowse
• Claire Smith

The following members have been reappointed for a further term of 1 year from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2027:

• Claire Barker
• Lindy Maslin

The following member has been reappointed for a further term of 5 years from 1 December 2026 until 30 November 2031:

• Brendan O’Mahony

The following member has been reappointed for a further term of 6 years from 10 January 2027 until 9 January 2033:

• Victoria Magrath

Psychiatrist members

The following members have been reappointed for a further term of 5 years from 1 February 2026 until 31 January 2031:

• Bethan Davies
• Kim Fraser
• Sobhi Girgis
• Santhana Gunasekaran
• Duncan Harding
• Gaynor Jones
• Olumuyiwa Olumoroti
• Lavanya Sebastian
• Alan Smith

The following member has been reappointed for a further term of 1 year from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2027:

• Tim McInerny

Independent members

The following member has been reappointed for a further term of 5 years from 1 February 2026 until 31 January 2031:

• Julie Mitchell

The following member has been reappointed for a further term of 1 year from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2027:

• Angharad Davies

The following members have been reappointed for a further term of 6 years from 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2032:

• Sarfraz Ahmad
• Sally Allbeury
• Rachel Cook
• Amy Coyte
• Stefan Fafinski
• Paul French
• Chris Fry
• Lisa Lamb
• Timothy Lawrence
• Fran McGrath
• Helen Potts
• Jayne Salt
• Julia Thackray

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 25 November 2025.

The Lord Chancellor, in his capacity as Secretary of State for Justice, has approved the appointments of Dr Maike Bohn and Lynne Charles as non-executive members of the Independent Monitoring Authority.

The Lord Chancellor, in his capacity as Secretary of State for Justice, has approved the appointments of Dr Maike Bohn and Lynne Charles as non-executive members of the Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) for 3 years from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028.

Dr Maike Bohn

Dr Maike Bohn brings significant experience in strategic leadership, international engagement and public policy. As Managing Director of Oxford in Berlin, she led the University of Oxford’s work in Germany and built wide-ranging partnerships across sectors. She is a co-founder of the3million and has held senior roles in executive education, public affairs and marketing at Cardiff University, Jisc and Saïd Business School.

Lynne Charles

Lynne Charles is a former civil servant, with over 20 years’ experience across a number of government departments, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury, with a particular focus on EU and international affairs. Most recently, she served as Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Bulgaria. Prior to working for the British government, Lynne worked as an official of the European Parliament, with roles in Brussels and London.

The IMA was established under the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020. Its purposes are to monitor how public bodies implement and apply the citizens’ rights parts of the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement with the EU, and Separation Agreement with the EEA EFTA states, and to promote the adequate and effective implementation and application of those rights.

The IMA has the power to receive complaints, launch inquiries and initiate or intervene in legal proceedings. The IMA also has a duty to review the effectiveness of the legislative framework relating to citizens’ rights. In exercising its functions, the IMA must have regard to the importance of dealing with general or systemic issues in the implementation and application of citizen’ rights. 

Appointments to the IMA are made by the Secretary of State and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. These appointments have been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.