Furore as ‘soft’ terror watchdog is made chief prosecutor
No10 faces backlash after top prosecutor job goes to Max Hill despite ‘mistaken’ stand on British jihadists
Steven Swinford, Robert Mendick
Jack Maidment
THERESA MAY was facing a backlash last night after the UK’S terror watchdog was appointed Britain’s most senior prosecutor, despite claiming that many jihadists returning from Syria should not be prosecuted.
Max Hill’s appointment as the £204,000-a-year director of public prosecutions was questioned by MPS and senior legal figures amid concerns that he had shown “extremely questionable judgment” in his current job.
The barrister caused a furore last year after suggesting that many young Britons who travelled to Syria had done so “out of a sense of naivety” and it was “right” that they had not been prosecuted. He was also accused of making a “schoolboy error” after meeting a campaign group that praised “Jihadi John”, the Isil executioner. He said it was his “duty” to engage with those affected by terror legislation.
The Government pushed ahead with Mr Hill’s appointment after the “disastrous” tenure of Alison Saunders, the current head of prosecutions, who is stepping down in the autumn.
Tom Tugendhat, a Tory MP and the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, said: “Max Hill is at best a controversial appointment given his previous comments about jihadists. He needs to be very clear that he is willing to prosecute those who bring murder to Britain’s streets or betray our communities by attempting to entice others.”
Lord Blunkett, the former Labour home secretary, said: “I sincerely hope that Max Hill has had a chance to reflect on the reaction to his more controversial comments in his present role and the critical importance of implementing the law, leaving politicians and
‘He needs to be very clear that he is willing to prosecute those who bring murder to Britain’s streets’
judges to change it. This is an extremely broad remit that is as much about protecting people and their neighbourhoods and ensuring cases come to fruition as it is about tackling high-profile controversies. I hope this will be remembered.
“If we ever needed a steady hand and a respected figure, given the ups and downs of the Crown Prosecution Service, that moment is now,” he warned. Mr Hill was appointed by Geoffrey Cox, the Attorney General, after being interviewed by a panel that included Sir Brian Leveson, who led an inquiry into press standards, and Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet secretary. The Prime Minister signed off his appointment.
Mr Hill said: “If you look at my career over the past 15 years you will find someone who has robustly and appropriately prosecuted terrorism offences. I am by no means soft.”
Mr Hill is one of the most experienced senior criminal barristers in the country, having successfully prosecuted the failed 21/7 bombers and appeared at the inquest into the 7/7 attacks. A source close to the Crown