Public appointment: Chair reappointed to Community Justice Scotland Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs today announced the reappointment of Catherine Dyer CBE as Chair of the Community Justice Scotland Board.

Chair

Catherine Dyer CBE is a lawyer with extensive experience of public sector leadership, policy, strategy and delivery; and the first woman to be appointed as Crown Agent for Scotland acting as Chief Executive of the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Scotland's sole public prosecuting authority.

She was elected as a Director of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law (ISRCL) in 2010 and is a founding member of the Justice Board for Scotland and an inaugural member of the Scottish Sentencing Council. She also acted as Diversity Champion for Scottish Government and was Chair of the Public Sector Employers' Diversity Network. Following her retirement, Scottish Ministers appointed her as Independent Chair of a Review of Child Protection Systems and announced acceptance of all the recommendations of her Report in March 2017. Later that year she was appointed Independent Chair of the Expert Group on Preventing Sexual Offending Involving Children and Young People, issuing that report in January 2020. As a member of Lord Bracadale’s Reference Group she assisted his Independent Review of Hate Crime legislation in Scotland which reported in May 2018.

Catherine was Chair of the Audit and Accountability Committee supporting the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (PIRC) from January 2019 until October 2024 Chair of Community Justice Scotland from January 2022.

Reappointment

This reappointment will be for 3 years and will run from 1 January 2025 to
31 December 2027.

This reappointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This reappointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £339 per day for a time commitment of 4 days per month, but no more than 40 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Catherine Dyer is a co-opted Non-Executive Director Member and Member of the Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee of the Redress Scotland Board for which she receives remuneration of £390 per day, for a time commitment of 2 days per month.

Catherine Dyer does not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.  

Catherine Dyer has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Community Justice Scotland, established in April 2017, plays a central role in the continual improvement of Scotland’s justice system. Its role is key to Scottish Ministers’ wider approach to justice and penal policy. Community Justice Scotland is responsible for monitoring, promoting, and supporting improvement in the provision of community justice services (its functions are set out in full in Section 4 of the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016. It provides advice to Scottish Ministers and local government leaders to strengthen how public services, third sector and other partners work together to prevent and reduce further offending.