Image source: GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
Biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner Fraser Sampson has indicated he will leave the role at the end of October.
He has informed Home Secretary Suella Braverman of his intention in a letter, citing a pre-existing plan to leave the country for personal reasons for an extended period towards the end of this year.
This has come after he had agreed to extend his initial two-year appointment, which began in March 2021, while the Government continued its work on the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. This was expected to have passed in Parliament by now but is now is expected to do so in the spring of next year at the earliest.
Sampson said his intention to go overseas makes it too difficult to discharge his responsibilities in overseeing the use of biometrics and surveillance cameras – which were combined when he took on the role – and that he feels it necessary to stand down.
He also stated in the letter that elements of the bill will make the functions of the surveillance camera commissioner superfluous.
