Press releases

  • Commission refers the murder convictions of Robert and Lee Firkins to the Court of Appeal.

    The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the murder convictions of Robert and Lee Firkins to the Court of Appeal. Brothers Robert and Lee Firkins were convicted together in January 2006 at Exeter Crown Court for the murders in 2005 of Carol and Graham Fisher at their home at Perch, near Wadebridge in Cornwall. The … Read more >

  • CCRC complains to IPSO about Times article on the independence of the Commission

    We were very disappointed about the recent article in The Times headlined “Watchdog’s work was not independent, court rules” (page 56 of The Times 23rd July*). We wrote to The Times that day, and again two days later, to try to point out some issues with the article and headline and to offer our own … Read more >

  • CCRC Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20 laid in Parliament

    The Criminal Cases Review Commission’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2019/20 has been laid in Parliament today, 14th July 2020. The Annual Report and Accounts sets out facts and figures in relation to the performance and finances of the independent public body set up to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice. Since its creation in 1997, the … Read more >

  • The CCRC refers eight more Post Office cases for appeal – bringing total to 47 so far

    This release contains information about:Eight more Post Office cases to be referred by the CCRC bringing thetotal to 47 so farCCRC proposal to the Attorney General and Justice Select Committeethat there be a review of when similar prosecutions are broughtCCRC provisional decisions not to refer seven other Post Office casesAdvice to potential applicants in other … Read more >

  • Commission refers a further six Shrewsbury 24 convictions

    The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred to the Court of Appeal the convictions of a further six members of the Shrewsbury 24. The six cases are those of Ricky Tomlinson and George Arthur Murray as well as Alfred James, Samuel Roy Warburton, Graham Roberts and John Kenneth Seaburg. The last four applicants are deceased … Read more >

  • Commission refers the murder conviction of Gary Walker

    The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred for appeal the 2004 murder conviction of Gary Walker. The decision to refer this exceptionally complicated case to the Court of Appeal is based on new expert opinion on cause of death and the CCRC’s view that the jury were effectively precluded from considering a potentially viable route … Read more >

  • CCRC to refer 39 Post Office cases on abuse of process argument

    The Criminal Cases Review Commission has so far decided to refer for appeal the convictions of 39 Post Office applicants.  The Commission will be referring all those cases, which involve convictions for theft, fraud and false accounting, on the basis of the argument that each prosecution amounted to an abuse of process. (The details of … Read more >

  • Commission refers the convictions of eight members of the Shrewsbury 24

    The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred for appeal the convictions of eight members of the Shrewsbury 24. They are John McKinsie Jones, John Malcolm Clee, William Michael Pierce, Terence Renshaw, Patrick Kevin Butcher, and Bernard Williams, and also Kenneth Desmond Francis O’Shea and Dennis Michael Warren both of whom are deceased. All eight men … Read more >

  • Commission refers the conviction of E to the Crown Court

    The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the conviction of E to the Crown Court. Mr E was convicted in May 2006 after he pleaded guilty at Harlow Magistrates’ Court to using a false instrument with intent (contrary to section 3 and 6 Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981). He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. … Read more >

  • Commission refers the case of D for appeal

    The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the case of D for appeal. The Commission has decided to refer D’s prison sentence because it has identified new information which it considers raises a real possibility that the sentence will be reduced on appeal. The sentence has been referred on the basis of sensitive information. Issues … Read more >