Helen Chamberlain appointed as interim chair of the Independent Family Returns Panel

The IFRP is an expert committee, sponsored by the Home Office, that provides independent advice to the department on how best to safeguard children’s welfare during a family’s enforced return.

Helen Chamberlain has been a member of the IFRP since August 2018. Her previous roles have included Chief Superintendent and Head of Public Protection at Nottinghamshire Police.

Interim chair of the IFRP Helen Chamberlain said:

I’m delighted and honoured to have been appointed as interim chair of the Independent Family Returns Panel.

We have an important role to play in ensuring the welfare needs of children are met when families are returned to their home country.

This interim appointment follows the expiry of Paul Greenhalgh’s three year tenure as chair of the IFRP, on 1 May 2020.

The recruitment process to find a permanent replacement has already begun and will be conducted in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.