Interception of Communications Commissioner
The Prime Minister has approved the extension of appointment of The Right Honourable Sir Paul Kennedy as Interception of Communications Commissioner
This appointment will expire on 31 December 2012.
Biographical notes
Sir Paul Kennedy (76) was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1960 and took silk in 1973. He served as a Justice of the High Court, assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division, from 1983 to 1992. He was Presiding Judge of the North Eastern Circuit from 1985 to 1989. He served as Lord Justice of Appeal from 1992 to 2005 and also as Vice-President of the Queen’s Bench Division from 1997 to 2002. He was first appointed as Interception of Communications Commissioner on 10 April 2006.
Notes for editors
Section 57 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 provides for the Prime Minster to appoint an Interception of Communications Commissioner who must be a person who holds or has held high judicial office (within the meaning of Part 3 of the CRA 2005) or is or has been a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
The responsibility of the Commissioner is to keep under review the issue of interception warrants and the adequacy of the arrangements for ensuring the product of interception is properly handled.