The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Sir James Goss
as Deputy Chair of the Security Vetting Appeals Panel, with
effect from 7 May 2025 for a period of four years.
Sir James Goss was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1975,
becoming a King's Counsel in 1997. He was appointed a Recorder in
1994, a Circuit Judge in 2009, a Senior Circuit Judge and the
Recorder of Newcastle in 2011 and a High Court Judge in the
King's Bench Division in 2014. He was a Presiding Judge of the
North Eastern Circuit between 2017 and 2020. He retired from the
High Court Bench in January 2026. Became a Judicial Commissioner
at the Investigatory Powers Commission in 2025
Lay Members
Mrs Mary Calam (Lay Member)
First appointed 9 December 2024 (until 8 December 28)
A former Senior Civil Servant with roles at the Independent
Police Complaints Commission, the Serious Organised Crime Agency
and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre. She served as Director
for National Security and then Director General for Crime,
Policing and Fire at the Home Office. In 2016, she joined the
leadership team for McKinsey & Company, consulting for
clients in policing, justice and central government around the
world. Since 2019, she has taken up roles a non-executive
director at the National Crime Agency, a trustee of the Police
Foundation as well as becoming a lay member of the Special
Immigration Appeals Commission and a trustee of the UK's largest
medical research programme, Our Future Health.
Mr Delroy Henry (Lay Member)
First appointed 9 December 2024 (until 8 December 28)
Called to the Bar in 1999 with a diverse criminal law practice
including roles as a Crown Advocate, Rape Panel Advocate and
Criminal Defence Specialist. Police Misconduct Chair for 8 years
and appointed HM Coroner since 2014.
Mr Matthew (Matt) Parr (Lay Member)
First appointed 9 December 2024 (until 8 December 28)
Former senior Naval officer, career included commanding a nuclear
submarine, frigate squadron, and British forces in
Gibraltar. Last appointment was as professional head of the
submarine service. Then became HM Inspector of Constabulary
and, later, HM Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services;
responsible for the Metropolitan Police, National Crime Agency,
PSNI, London Fire Brigade, and 20 other bodies. Specialised
in protests, fraud, firearms, counter-terrorism and
vetting. Sat on both appointment and disciplinary panels
for chief officers. Chaired a sporting charity for 7 years.
Ms Tracey Tuffuor Oppong (Lay Member)
First appointed 9 December 2024 (until 8 December 28)
Solicitor and Director of Litigation and Corporate Law at the
Metropolitan Police Service. She has 18 years' of experience in
advising on covert policing and counter-terrorism operations.
Regularly practised in notable inquests, public inquiries and
civil litigation in matters of national significance concerning
deaths in custody, the exercise of policing powers and breaches
of human rights. Currently overseeing the delivery of surge in
misconduct cases to an expeditious resolution to support reform
of policing culture.
Dr Suzy Walton (Lay Member)
First appointed 9 December 2024 (until 8 December 28)
Chartered director, occupational psychologist and scientist, Suzy
is a former Senior Civil Servant from the Cabinet Office and MoD.
She was awarded a PhD for her work on military suicide. She is a
Vice-President of Combat Stress. For government she is a
disciplinary panel member for the Judicial Conduct Investigations
Office, a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee and
the Independent Reconfiguration Panel. Suzy has sat on multiple
boards including the Institute of Directors, the global
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and Birmingham
Children's Hospital. She is also the former Vice President of the
Royal Society of Medicine and former Deputy Chair of the Royal
Society of Arts, the Internet Watch Foundation and the University
of Westminster. Suzy is a mother of seven and had earlier careers
as a West End actress and a broadcast journalist with Sky News
and LBC Radio.
