The national policing lead for criminal justice Nick Ephgrave has been appointed as the policing board member for the Sentencing Council.

The Council which issues guidelines on sentencing which the courts must follow, says Assistant Commissioner Ephgrave would provide a police perspective on public concerns about particular types of offending.

The previous policing member of the board was Simon Byrne who is currently chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

AC Ephgrave was appointed head of frontline policing in the Metropolitan Police in March 2020 and prior to that as AC for Met Operations was at the centre of discussions with the Home Office about changes to Public Order legislation to deal with mass protest events such as the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations in central London last year.

He also leads for the police nationally on disclosure issues.

The Secretary of State for Justice made the appointment and AC Ephgrave will serve on the board for three years from 26 May 2020.

The Sentencing Council said on the appointment: “AC Ephgrave’s appointment will bring senior policing expertise to the Council and ensure that the development of sentencing guidelines is informed by current offending trends, the practical challenges faced in bringing offenders to justice and a police perspective on public concerns about particular types of offending.”