Home Office
Today, the Home Secretary has announced the appointment of Jonathan Hall KC as the governments new Independent Reviewer of State Threat Legislation, following a robust open competition.
It is a new role, brought in as part of the new National Security Act 2023. The new independent reviewer will assess the fairness, effectiveness and proportionality of UK state threats legislation, and report their findings and recommendations.
Jonathan has been Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation since May 2019. He has been a Kings Counsel since 2013, with responsibility for various cases, including lead counsel in the undercover policing inquiry for 3 years, and has been involved in complex and high profile cases involving fraud, law enforcement, and national security.
Welcoming the appointment, Home Secretary, James Cleverly, said:
I am pleased to announce that Jonathan Hall KC has been appointed as Independent Reviewer of State Threats Legislation.
It is the governments utmost priority to protect the UKs national security, the safety of the British public and the UKs vital interests from the hostile activities of foreign states.
State threats legislation must therefore be as robust as possible to deal with individuals who seek to do us harm. I am confident that Mr Halls wealth of experience and legal expertise will help deliver this.
Jonathan Hall KC said:
I am very pleased to be appointed as the first State Threats Reviewer. The National Security Act 2023 is a major and innovative response to state threats.
I look forward to bringing my experience of reviewing terrorism legislation to bear on this new set of offences and powers.
As part of his role, Mr Hall will provide an important safeguard, giving evidence to the Parliamentary committees and international bodies, as well as commenting on domestic and overseas media on high profile state threats issues through reports and evidence. He will begin his t