Tracey Calleia to join the CCRC in March as interim Chief Executive
A new interim Chief Executive has been appointed at the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), with Tracey Calleia set to take up the role in mid-March 2026.
The appointment was announced on 9 February 2026 by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the independent body responsible for reviewing suspected and alleged miscarriages of criminal justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mrs Calleia is a lawyer with more than three decades of experience working within the justice system. She currently serves as delivery director for the Midlands at HM Courts & Tribunals Service, where she has oversight of court operations and service delivery.
In a statement following the announcement, Mrs Calleia said she was “delighted” to be joining the CCRC and emphasised her commitment to public service and the effective delivery of justice. She added that it was important to her that people remain at the centre of her work, including both staff and those who access the Commission’s services.
The CCRC’s Chair, Dame Vera Baird KC, welcomed the appointment, stating that Mrs Calleia’s knowledge, approach and experience of the justice system would be of significant benefit to the organisation and to applicants seeking reviews of their cases.
The CCRC was established under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 and operates independently of the courts, government and the police. Based in Birmingham and funded by the Ministry of Justice, it reviews cases where there are concerns that a conviction or sentence may represent a miscarriage of justice.
The Commission currently comprises ten Commissioners drawn from a range of professional backgrounds. Commissioners are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, in accordance with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice.
When reviewing a case, the CCRC considers whether new evidence or argument gives rise to a real possibility that a conviction would not be upheld if referred back to the appeal court. In most cases, applicants are expected to have pursued an appeal before applying to the Commission, although it can consider cases without new evidence or a prior appeal in exceptional circumstances.
If the CCRC decides to refer a case, the final determination rests with the relevant appeal court, which must decide whether the conviction is unsafe.