Prime Minister appoints two new IPCO Judicial Commissioners

The Prime Minister has appointed two new Judicial Commissioners to support the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, Sir Brian Leveson, to independently oversee and authorise the use of investigatory powers. Lady Dorrian and Lady Stacey will join the team of existing Judicial Commissioners from May 2025.

Three Judicial Commissioners, Sir Nigel Davis, Sir Declan Morgan and Sir Peregrine Simon have also been reappointed for a further three-year term.

Judicial Commissioners support the Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPC) by scrutinising applications from public authorities to use the most intrusive investigatory powers.

Sir Brian Leveson said: “I am pleased to confirm the Prime Minister has accepted my recommendation to appoint Lady Dorrian and Lady Stacey and reappoint Sir Nigel Davis, Sir Declan Morgan and Sir Peregrine Simon as Judicial Commissioners.

“I am delighted that Lady Dorrian and Lady Stacey are joining the team and welcome these appointments. I look forward to working with them in delivering the important constitutional function to ensure there is public confidence in the use of investigatory powers.

“I am extremely grateful for the work of Sir Nigel, Sir Declan and Sir Peregrine over the last three years. I am delighted that we will retain their extensive legal expertise and continue to utilise their extensive knowledge of the investigatory powers.”

Public authorities require authorisation from a Secretary of State or a senior officer to use the most intrusive investigatory powers. Judicial Commissioners must then review this decision, known as the “double lock” process.

IPCO regularly briefs the Commissioners on matters related to their work. They also attend quarterly meetings to discuss intelligence threats, relevant technological or operational change and legal issues.

The Prime Minister appoints Judicial Commissioners after consulting with Scottish Ministers on the recommendations of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Lord President of the Court of Session and the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.

Judicial Commissioners must hold or have held a high judicial office and so they are selected from a pool of serving or retired members of the UK’s senior judiciary.

Our full list of current and former Judicial Commissioners is available here.

-ENDS-

For media enquires please contact:
Press Line: 0300 427 2730 | 07356 190877

Email: IPCOpressoffice@ipco.org.uk

Notes to Editors

IPCO provides independent oversight of the use of investigatory powers by intelligence agencies, police forces and other public authorities. The Investigatory Powers Commissioner, Sir Brian Leveson, and his Judicial Commissioners are responsible for overseeing the use of investigatory powers by public authorities which include law enforcement, the intelligence agencies, prisons, local authorities and other government agencies (e.g. regulators). In total over 600 public authorities and institutions have investigatory powers. Further information about IPCO is here: www.ipco.org.uk/