*/
The terror law watchdog and former criminal Bar chief Max Hill QC will take up the reins at the scandal-hit Crown Prosecution Service, following the departure of Alison Saunders.
He pledged to ‘restore public trust in the Crown Prosecution Service’ after widespread disclosure failings, which caused trials to collapse and led to the imprisonment of innocent people, were revealed.
Saunders, who has been in post for five years, will stand down on 31 October and take up a job at City law firm Linklaters.
Hill will stand down as the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, a job he has done since March 2017, and leave his position as head of London’s Red Lion Chambers, to undertake the £204,000-a-year role.
He has prosecuted in many high-profile cases, including the murder of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor and the 2005 London bombings, and has acted for the defence in substantial fraud cases.
Hill said: ‘I am honoured to be the next Director of Public Prosecutions. I am grateful to Alison Saunders for her service and look forward to building on her legacy.
‘This is a challenging time for the CPS, with the rise in complex cases and negative publicity about its handling of disclosure in some cases. I have seen first-hand the sterling work of the CPS and I am determined to restore public trust in all of its work.’
The terror law watchdog and former criminal Bar chief Max Hill QC will take up the reins at the scandal-hit Crown Prosecution Service, following the departure of Alison Saunders.
He pledged to ‘restore public trust in the Crown Prosecution Service’ after widespread disclosure failings, which caused trials to collapse and led to the imprisonment of innocent people, were revealed.
Saunders, who has been in post for five years, will stand down on 31 October and take up a job at City law firm Linklaters.
Hill will stand down as the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, a job he has done since March 2017, and leave his position as head of London’s Red Lion Chambers, to undertake the £204,000-a-year role.
He has prosecuted in many high-profile cases, including the murder of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor and the 2005 London bombings, and has acted for the defence in substantial fraud cases.
Hill said: ‘I am honoured to be the next Director of Public Prosecutions. I am grateful to Alison Saunders for her service and look forward to building on her legacy.
‘This is a challenging time for the CPS, with the rise in complex cases and negative publicity about its handling of disclosure in some cases. I have seen first-hand the sterling work of the CPS and I am determined to restore public trust in all of its work.’
The Bar Council is ready to support a turn to the efficiencies that will make a difference
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
An interview with Rob Wagg, CEO of New Park Court Chambers
What meaningful steps can you take in 2026 to advance your legal career? asks Thomas Cowan of St Pauls Chambers
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, explains why drugs may appear in test results, despite the donor denying use of them
Ever wondered what a pupillage is like at the CPS? This Q and A provides an insight into the training, experience and next steps
The appointments of 96 new King’s Counsel (also known as silk) are announced today
Ready for the new way to do tax returns? David Southern KC continues his series explaining the impact on barristers. In part 2, a worked example shows the specific practicalities of adapting to the new system
Resolution of the criminal justice crisis does not lie in reheating old ideas that have been roundly rejected before, say Ed Vickers KC, Faras Baloch and Katie Bacon
With pupillage application season under way, Laura Wright reflects on her route to ‘tech barrister’ and offers advice for those aiming at a career at the Bar