The Home Secretary has formally appointed Sir John Mitting as the chair of the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
Sir John Mitting will replace Sir Christopher Pitchford, who announced in February that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease and would be stepping down from his role due to his illness.
Sir John Mitting was appointed as a panel member in May 2017, with a view to him becoming chair when Sir Christopher’s ill-health forced his resignation. He has been working on the Inquiry as a panel member since then to smooth the transition process and will now take over as chair.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said:
I’d like to place on record my profound thanks to Sir Christopher for all he has done to further the work of the Inquiry.
It is important that the Inquiry’s work continues without delay, and it is for that reason I am pleased that Sir John Mitting will be taking over as chair. I wish him all the best in this incredibly important role.
Sir John Mitting has been a High Court judge in England and Wales since 2001. He served as the Chairman of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission from 2007 to 2012.
The Home Secretary has the power to appoint a panel member as a replacement chair under the Inquiries Act 2005.
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