Press releases
Commission refers the convictions of Winston Trew and Sterling Christie on the basis of police misconduct.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred convictions of Winston Trew and Sterling Christie to the Court of Appeal. Messrs Trew and Christie were convicted along with two others at the Old Bailey on 8th November 1972. All four men were convicted of assaulting a police officer and attempted theft. Mr Christie was also convicted … Read more >
Commission refers the case of Miss S to the Crown Court
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the case of Miss S to the Crown Court. Miss S is an Iranian who fled Iran following her treatment by government forces because of her involvement in a political movement and after a close friend was killed during an anti-government demonstration. She left Iran in June 2012 … Read more >
CCRC Chairman Helen Pitcher’s letter to The Spectator, submitted 23/08/2019
See below for the text of a letter from the Chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, Helen Pitcher OBE to The Spectator, submitted on 23/08/2019. It relates to Matthew Scott’s online article of 16/08/2019. Sir, Your report (Coffee House, 16 August 2019) “Kicking criminals is easy, but who will speak up for the accused?”, … Read more >
Commission refers the case of Tracey Newell to the Court of Appeal.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the case of Tracey Newell to the Court of Appeal. On 29 November 2012, at Inner London Crown, Ms Newell pleaded guilty to seven counts of benefit fraud. The counts related to claims for Housing and Council Tax Benefit covering the period from 1 August 2005 to 5 … Read more >
CCRC Chairman Helen Pitcher’s letter to The Times re: “Ministers bullied justice watchdog” article.
This letter was submitted to The Times on July 30 in relation to an article that appeared the day before. It was not published so we have made it available here. Sir, I take issue with your article “Ministers bullied justice watchdog, lawyers claim” (Times 29 July). The CCRC has never had any problem standing … Read more >
Commission refers conviction of Mr C for appeal
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the case of RC to the Crown Court. Mr C is an Iranian national who was involved over a number of years with anti-government activity in his country. He was imprisoned on a number of occasions and tortured. In March 2011, in fear of his life, he fled … Read more >
Commission publishes report from its review of disclosure in CCRC case sample
The Criminal Cases Review Commission’s internal review of disclosure is now complete, and the CCRC is today publishing a report of its findings on that review. The CCRC’s report makes 11 recommendations for improvements to how disclosure issues are approached, both within the CCRC’s own casework and by the wider Criminal Justice System. The CCRC … Read more >
CCRC Annual Report and Accounts 2018/19 laid in Parliament
The Criminal Cases Review Commission’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2018/19 was laid in Parliament on Thursday July 18th. The Annual Report and Accounts for 2018/19 sets out facts and figures in relation to the performance and finances of the independent public body established 20 years ago to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice. A PDF … Read more >
Six new Commissioners appointed to Criminal Cases Review Commission
Six new Commissioners have been appointed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. CCRC Commissioners are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister in accordance with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice. These appointments bring to 13 the number of current CCRC Commissioners. The new Commissioners are: … Read more >
Commission refers the terrorism related case of Michael Devine to the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the case of Michael Devine to the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal. Mr Devine[1] was convicted in Belfast Crown Court in February 1981 of ten offences including attempted murder, firearms offences, conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, and membership of a proscribed organisation. He pleaded not … Read more >