News Editor, Solicitors Journal

ICO overhaul

10 Sept 2021News

News of an overhaul follows the announcement of the current commissioner's successor

Digital Secretary, Oliver Dowden, has announced the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is to be overhauled. The government has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the UK’s data landscape. A new ICO governance model is planned, to include an independent board and chief executive to mirror the governance structures of other regulators such as the Competition and Markets Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. In August, John Edwards, the current New Zealand privacy commissioner was named to succeed Elizabeth Denham as the new ICO commissioner.

Legal News desk contact: editorial@solicitorsjournal.com

Latest Articles

The UK’s dirty money reforms: from pledges to practice

David Lammy’s tough rhetoric on illicit finance revives long-standing pledges, but delivery, not words, will determine success

Birketts appoints Michael Conway as partner

Birketts has appointed Michael Conway as the first Intellectual Property Partner in its Bristol office growing its capabilities in trade marks and branding

Government consults on powered mobility device laws

The UK government seeks public input to modernise laws affecting powered mobility devices, ensuring safety and accessibility

AI in family law: risks and responsibilities

As clients increasingly rely on AI, family lawyers face rising risks, costs, and challenges to credibility

Mark Neale steps down from BSB

Mark Neale announces his retirement as Director General of the Bar Standards Board after six years of service and outlines forthcoming operational changes to enhance efficiency

High street law firms face challenges due to government proposals on client account interest

The Ministry of Justice's plans could significantly impact law firms, leading to increased legal fees and firm closures

Cox v HMRC: Upper Tribunal clarifies penalty suspension criteria

Taxpayers cannot rely on one-off errors to secure penalty suspension

Government unveils ambitious road safety strategy

The new road safety strategy aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035

UK expected to see IPO revival

UK capital markets are set for a considerable revival in IPO activity due to extensive reforms

New plan enhances cyber security for public services

A new cyber action plan has been launched to improve online public services, ensuring they remain secure and resilient for users

Legal aid faces critical funding crisis

A Parliamentary report highlights urgent action needed from the government to ensure the future of legal aid

Williams and Owen challenge Natural Resources Wales embankment decision

High Court upholds flood authority's withdrawal from Tan Lan Embankment maintenance

Legal sector needs clarity on AI

The Law Society of England and Wales insists that clarity in existing regulations is essential for AI use in the legal sector to ensure professional standards and public trust

Vote for your most iconic trademark

The UK’s trade mark registry is asking for public input to declare the most iconic trade mark

Calls for urgent reform of spinal injury care

Two Bristol solicitors demand action to improve inadequate care for those with spinal injuries

SJ Interview: Joelle Grogan

Dr Joelle Grogan is a legal scholar specialising in the rule of law in times of crisis. She presents The Law Show on BBC Radio 4, and is Co-Academic Director of the Rule of Law Clinic at the CEU Democracy Institute (Budapest), and a Senior Research Fellow at the UCD Sutherland School of Law. Her work focuses on constitutional accountability, emergency powers, and legal misinformation. In this interview, she examines the pressures facing the rule of law in the UK, from executive power and court delays to media narratives, emergencies, and the impact of AI on legal practice.

Justice reform risks targeting the wrong fix

As 2026 approaches, ministers eye jury trials while ignoring deeper causes of England’s criminal justice crisis