The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention has appointed
Francesca Whitelaw KC as the interim Biometrics Commissioner.
The role of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner
has been vacant since August 2024. The government is actively
recruiting the next permanent Biometrics and Surveillance Camera
Commissioner, through open competition.
While this campaign is ongoing, the minister has decided to
appoint Francesca as the interim Biometrics Commissioner.
Francesca has been appointed in accordance with the Governance
Code on Public Appointments.
Francesca will undertake the casework functions of the Biometrics
Commissioner set out under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012,
providing oversight of National Security Determinations and
applications made under section 63G PACE by the police.
Francesca was appointed King's Counsel in 2023 and is a leading
specialist in public law, police, government, information law and
human rights. She has expertise in biometrics and national
security, working on several inquiries and inquests.
She will take up her post from today, Tuesday 1 July 2025, for a
period of up to 6 months, until the new Biometrics and
Surveillance Camera Commissioner is appointed. The Surveillance
Camera Commissioner post will also remain vacant until this
point.
