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The CCRC, which is an independent body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, launches fresh appeals when strong new evidence or new arguments are presented.

The spokesperson said it was not the CCRC's job to "determine innocence or guilt in a case", and said that it was a "matter for the courts".

"Given the importance of the CCRC's work, we will appoint an interim chair as quickly as possible who will be tasked with conducting a full and thorough review of how the organisation operates," they added.

Last summer, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood began the formal process of sending a recommendation to the King that Ms Pitcher should go, after personally concluding that she was not fit to head the CCRC.

The report reveals the CCRC’s investigators and leaders failed to follow up evidence of innocence right up to 2022.