Ensuring the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has the public’s full confidence will be top of the newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) to-do list, Keir Starmer QC has told the Gazette.

The joint head of Doughty Street Chambers will take over from Sir Ken Macdonald QC on 1 November.

Starmer said: ‘The CPS’s aspiration is to be a world-class prosecution service in the next five years. It will seek to continue its reform, including ensuring it has confidence in itself and that the public... also has confidence in it.’

Leading human rights lawyers welcomed Starmer’s appointment. Louise Christian, a partner at London firm Christian Khan, said: ‘It will provide reassurances to many that despite the popularism of the government there will be more of a balance struck on the question of difficult prosecutions and an emphasis on human rights.’

Stephen Grosz, a partner at London firm Bindmans, said the appointment of such an experienced human rights lawyer who has worked in the defendant and claimant arena was ‘inspired’.

And Mark Stephens, a partner at London firm Finer Stephens Innocent, said: ‘It’s an enormously important move to have someone of his capability, intellect and integrity.

‘It will bring a breath of fresh air to the DPP role. It’s an enormously significant appointment and he’ll make it his own’.