Richard Thomas (Information Commissioner)

Infobox Person
name = Richard Thomas


image_size = 150px
caption =
birth_name =
birth_date =
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
death_cause =
resting_place =
resting_place_coordinates =
residence = Reigate, Surrey
nationality =
other_names =
known_for =
education =
employer =
occupation =
title = Information Commissioner
salary =
networth =
height =
weight =
term = December 22002-present
predecessor = Elizabeth France
successor =
party =
boards =
religion =
spouse = Julia Clarke (1974-present)
partner =
children = 3
parents =
relatives =


website =
footnotes =

Richard Thomas is the Information Commissioner of the United Kingdom, and has held the post since 2002. He is currently expected to continue in this post until 2009 [http://www.ico.gov.uk/about_us/who_we_are/management_board.aspx Management Board] on ICO official site, accessed September 16 2007] . During his time in office, he has raised concerns over the increased use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6610139.stm "Warning over 'talking CCTV' plans"] , BBC News Online, May 1 2007, accessed September 16 2007] and the introduction of ID Cards [Patrick Foster, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1572626.ece "Big Brother surveillance means no one is safe, experts warn"] , The Times, March 27 2007, accessed September 16 2007] in the UK. He is also a visiting professor of Law at Northumbria University. [ [http://northumbria.ac.uk/sd/academic/law/news/607811 New visiting professor appointments for Northumbria’s Law School] , Northumbria University News website, March 9 2007, accessed September 16 2007]

Born in June 1949, the son of a magistrate, Thomas attended public school and studied law at Southampton University in the late 1960s (he was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from this same university). [ [http://www.soton.ac.uk/mediacentre/news/2007/jul/07_84.shtml University recognises distinguished achievements with honorary degree awards] , University of Southampton News website, July 19 2007, accessed September 16 2007] [ [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/story/0,,1518657,00.html , Guardian Unlimited, July 1 2005, accessed September 16 2007]

In his early career, he worked as an articled clerk and solicitor with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (from 1971) and the Citizens Advice Bureau, Notting Hill (from 1974). He then went on to work in legal and public affairs positions with the National Consumer Council (from 1979) and the Office of Fair Trading.David Hencke, [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/story/0,,1518657,00.html "The Guardian profile: Richard Thomas"] , Guardian Unlimited, July 1 2005, accessed September 16 2007] While at the National Consumer Council he was also involved with the Campaign for Freedom of Information and had a secondary involvement in the publishing of a book of essays entitled "Consuming Secrets". [Rosemary Delbridge & Martin Smith (Eds.), [http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/?func=full-set-set&set_number=000175&set_entry=000001&format=999 "Consuming Secrets: How official secrecy affects everyday life in Britain"] , National Consumer Council, 1982. Catalogue reference at the British Library, accessed September 16 2007]

Before appointment as Information Commissioner, he was the Director of Public Policy at the prestigious law firm Clifford Chance, the first to hold this position.

He has been married to Julia Clarke since 1974 and they have three adult children. He and his wife live in Reigate, Surrey.

References