QUEEN’S GRADUATE APPOINTED INDEPENDENT REVIEWER OF CRIMINAL RECORD CERTIFICATES  

03 May 2019

(Article below is based on news release issued by the Department of Justice on 29 March 2019).

The Department of Justice has announced the appointment of Queen’s graduate Ms Caroline Conway as Independent Reviewer of Criminal Record Certificates – a three year public appointment which she took up last month.  

Regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI), the role attracts an annual remuneration package of £13,152.

The Independent Reviewer can review criminal record information disclosed by AccessNI on Standard or Enhanced checks. The role of the Independent Reviewer (IR) of Criminal Record Certificates was established through implementation of section 41 of the Justice (NI) Act 2015 and the specific details of the role are set out in Schedule 4 of the same Act. 

Ms Conway graduated from Queen’s in 2001 with an LLB in Law and Accounts and was later added to the Roll of Solicitors of Northern Ireland in 2003. She developed a strong interest in criminal law and advocacy which prompted a move to the PSNI in 2004 were she worked as a prosecutor for two years before subsequently moving to the Public Prosecution Service in 2006, where she has specialised in criminal advocacy.

Speaking about Ms Conway’s appointment Peter May, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Justice, said: “Caroline Conway will play a key role in balancing the disclosure of sensitive personal information in the form of a criminal record, so that unsuitable persons are not appointed to positions working with children and vulnerable adults, against an individual’s right to privacy.

“In this way the Department continues to provide information to assist in the protection of the community but also ensures that older and minor criminal offences don’t blight a person’s life forever.

“I congratulate Caroline Conway on her appointment and wish her every success in this important role.”

Northern Ireland is the only region of the UK to provide screening of criminal record information through an Independent Reviewer. This appointment is therefore unique in that no similar role exists in the Disclosure and Barring Service and or Disclosure Scotland.

Further information about the role of the Independent Reviewer and previous annual reports can be found at Justice/Accessni. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department of Justice Press Office +44 (0)28 9052 6444.

To submit graduate news items, or for general enquiries about this story, please contact Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office, Queen's University Belfast or telephone: +44 (0)28 9097 5321.

Photo credit: Main image by Sang Hyun Cho from Pixabay

 

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