PM appoints new Deputy Chair and Lay Members to the Security Vetting Appeals Panel

PM appoints new Deputy Chair and Lay Members to the Security Vetting Appeals Panel
Sir James Goss appointed as Deputy Chair of the Security Vetting Appeals Panel.
The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Sir James Goss as Deputy Chair of the Security Vetting Appeals Panel, with effect from 7 May 2025 for a period of four years.
Sir James Goss was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1975, becoming a King’s Counsel in 1997. He was appointed a Recorder in 1994, a Circuit Judge in 2009, a Senior Circuit Judge and the Recorder of Newcastle in 2011 and a High Court Judge in the King’s Bench Division in 2014. He was a Presiding Judge of the North Eastern Circuit between 2017 and 2020. He retired from the High Court Bench in January 2026. Became a Judicial Commissioner at the Investigatory Powers Commission in 2025
Lay Members
Mrs Mary Calam (Lay Member)
First appointed 9 December 2024 (until 8 December 28)
A former Senior Civil Servant with roles at the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre. She served as Director for National Security and then Director General for Crime, Policing and Fire at the Home Office. In 2016, she joined the leadership team for McKinsey & Company, consulting for clients in policing, justice and central government around the world. Since 2019, she has taken up roles a non-executive director at the National Crime Agency, a trustee of the Police Foundation as well as becoming a lay member of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission and a trustee of the UK’s largest medical research programme, Our Future Health.
Mr Delroy Henry (Lay Member)
First appointed 9 December 2024 (until 8 December 28)
Called to the Bar in 1999 with a diverse criminal law practice including roles as a Crown Advocate, Rape Panel Advocate and Criminal Defence Specialist. Police Misconduct Chair for 8 years and appointed HM Coroner since 2014.
Mr Matthew (Matt) Parr (Lay Member)
First appointed 9 December 2024 (until 8 December 28)
Former senior Naval officer, career included commanding a nuclear submarine, frigate squadron, and British forces in Gibraltar. Last appointment was as professional head of the submarine service. Then became HM Inspector of Constabulary and, later, HM Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services; responsible for the Metropolitan Police, National Crime Agency, PSNI, London Fire Brigade, and 20 other bodies. Specialised in protests, fraud, firearms, counter-terrorism and vetting. Sat on both appointment and disciplinary panels for chief officers. Chaired a sporting charity for 7 years.
Ms Tracey Tuffuor Oppong (Lay Member)
First appointed 9 December 2024 (until 8 December 28)
Solicitor and Director of Litigation and Corporate Law at the Metropolitan Police Service. She has 18 years’ of experience in advising on covert policing and counter-terrorism operations. Regularly practised in notable inquests, public inquiries and civil litigation in matters of national significance concerning deaths in custody, the exercise of policing powers and breaches of human rights. Currently overseeing the delivery of surge in misconduct cases to an expeditious resolution to support reform of policing culture.
Dr Suzy Walton (Lay Member)
First appointed 9 December 2024 (until 8 December 28)
Chartered director, occupational psychologist and scientist, Suzy is a former Senior Civil Servant from the Cabinet Office and MoD. She was awarded a PhD for her work on military suicide. She is a Vice-President of Combat Stress. For government she is a disciplinary panel member for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office, a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee and the Independent Reconfiguration Panel. Suzy has sat on multiple boards including the Institute of Directors, the global Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. She is also the former Vice President of the Royal Society of Medicine and former Deputy Chair of the Royal Society of Arts, the Internet Watch Foundation and the University of Westminster. Suzy is a mother of seven and had earlier careers as a West End actress and a broadcast journalist with Sky News and LBC Radio.