Keir Starmer to replace Sir Ken as head of the Crown Prosecution Service

Eminent human rights lawyer, Keir Starmer QC, has been appointed the new Director of Public Prosecutions, the attorney general, Baroness Scotland QC has announced.

Starmer, currently joint head of chambers and head of the criminal team at Doughty Street Chambers, takes over as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on November 1, replacing Sir Ken Macdonald QC.

Called to the Bar in 1987, he made silk in 2002. Last year named QC of the year in the field of human rights and public law by Chambers & Partners directory, in 2005 he won the Bar Council’s Sydney Elland Goldsmith award for his outstanding contribution to pro bono work in challenging the death penalty in the Caribbean, Uganda, Kenya and Malawi.

He is the human rights adviser to the Policing Board in Northern Ireland and writes and lectures widely on human rights issues.

His notable recent cases include the House of Lords cases of Ashley v Chief Constable of Sussex Police (2008) (test for self-defence in fatal shooting cases in civil law) and Al-Jedda v Secretary of State (2007) (legality of internment by British troops in Iraq). Forthcoming European cases include Litvinenko v Russia and Mirror Group Newspapers Plc v UK.

Scotland says: “Keir has practised as a highly respected member of the independent Bar with great distinction. He has previously prosecuted for the Crown and advised the CPS, and has also acted against the government on various issues. That is in the nature of his present role as an independent barrister. I value the skills and independence he will bring to his role.”

Starmer says: “The CPS is at the heart of the criminal justice system and is committed to providing a world class prosecution service. Leading it at this important time will be a great privilege.”