Role in the case
Dame Vera Baird KC became Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission to address widely-noted systemic concerns about CCRC referral rates and case-handling capacity. Under her chairmanship, the CCRC has adopted a more publicly communicative posture on active reviews.
Her 13 February 2026 statement on the Letby application confirmed three specific operational points: (a) a preliminary application was received by the CCRC in early February 2025; (b) additional material has been received throughout the intervening year; (c) the review is underway. She noted explicitly that the CCRC “does not make decisions on the basis of external pressure from anyone” — a statement of the statutory-independence principle under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995.
Professional background
- Called to the Bar 1975; appointed Queen’s Counsel 2000.
- Labour MP for Redcar 2001-2010.
- Solicitor General for England and Wales 2007-2010.
- Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales 2019-2022; publicly resigned over what she described as inadequate government engagement with victims’ policy.
- Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
- Appointed Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Why her role matters for the review
The CCRC’s statutory function under section 13 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 is to determine whether there is a ‘real possibility’ that the Court of Appeal would overturn a conviction. It does not determine guilt or innocence itself. Under Dame Vera Baird’s chairmanship, the CCRC’s public-facing communication on high-profile reviews has been somewhat more forthcoming than under her predecessors, while the underlying statutory function remains unchanged.
The February 2026 statement is load-bearing for the post-conviction public-recognition arc because it is the first time a senior UK criminal-justice statutory body has publicly confirmed that the Letby convictions are under active review.
Read alongside
- The CCRC review explained (plain-English)
- Timeline: CCRC chair publicly confirms review
- Mark McDonald KC — defence CCRC counsel
- Analysis: appeal vs CCRC distinction
- The public-recognition arc
Source
CCRC public statement of 13 February 2026 (ccrc.gov.uk); Criminal Appeal Act 1995 section 13; Hansard parliamentary record (2001-2010); BBC / Guardian biographical archive; CCRC annual reports.
Last verified: 22 April 2026.