Peter Handcock CBE

Peter Handcock has worked in the court and tribunal system for over 30 years, in both operational and headquarters posts. Most recently he was the Chief Executive of the Tribunals Service before his appointment to Director General of the Access to Justice Group on 1 April 2008.

Peter started in the civil service as a county court clerk before spending the next 12 years in progressively senior operational posts and then joining the department's fast stream programme.

In 1992, Peter took on his first SCS post and now has a wide experience of developing approaches to managing criminal court processes and procedures, both strategic and operational, in partnership with the judiciary and other justice system agencies. He has been closely involved with major procedural reform of the civil justice system and had a leading role in planning further modernisation, including the development of new IT enabled business models.

Peter is currently a member of the MoJ's Corporate Management Board, an OGC Gateway Reviewer, Operational Delivery Champion for the Professional Skills for Government scheme, MoJ Champion for Sustainable Development and also the Corporate Management Board Champion for the Network for Caring.

Peter was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year 2005 Honours List.

He is married with 5 children and lives in Kent.