David Green CB QC is a highly experienced barrister specialising in crime. He has prosecuted and defended in serious crime over a 25-year career at the bar.
He was called in 1979, appointed Assistant Recorder in 1996 and Recorder in 2000. He took silk in 2000.
Green was appointed the first director of the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) in 2005 when that department was established in the wake of a series of controversial and unsuccessful customs prosecutions.
The independent Inspectorate HMCPSI concluded in a report on RCPO in 2009 that the department had succeeded in its primary objective of restoring public and judicial confidence in customs (now HMRC) prosecutions.
RCPO was subsequently merged with the CPS in January 2010 and Green was asked to stay on as director of the CPS Central Fraud Group, which he headed until April last year.
From that date Green returned to private practice in the Chambers of David Perry QC and David Fisher QC at 6 King’s Bench Walk, Temple in London.
Green was appointed CB in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 2011.
“Challenging and exciting time” for the SFO
Speaking about Green’s appointment, attorney general Dominic Grieve said: “I welcome David Green’s appointment to this key post. He joins at a challenging and exciting time for the Serious Fraud Office. The Government is committed to a better and more co-ordinated approach to economic crime and is putting the structures in place to effect this.”
Grieve went on to state: “The SFO will play an important role in this new strategy, working with Economic Crime Command partners and energetically pursuing the corruption and fraud which cause so much damage to victims, to law abiding competitors and to the UK’s wider economy and reputation.”
The attorney general has also paid tribute to Richard Alderman.
“The SFO has been transformed under his leadership,” suggested Grieve, “becoming more effective, proactive and pragmatic. Richard has also pursued positive engagement both domestically and internationally and leaves the organisation more influential and outward-facing.”
Of his new role, David Green said: “The SFO is here to stay, and I’m delighted to accept the Attorney’s offer of a four-year contract as its director. The SFO harnesses all the specialist skills needed to tackle serious and complex fraud and bribery under one roof. Its cases have a high profile and a major public interest element. It is recognised as a major national and international agency and brand.”
In conclusion, Green commented: “Importantly, the SFO will contribute to our economic recovery by working to ensure a level playing field in the markets and underpinning the maxim ‘my word is my bond’. Over the next few years, the SFO will play a crucial role in the developing anti-fraud strategy”.
Green’s appointment is for a term of four years and follows on from an open competition.
