Wirral In It Together

Date 19 June 2026

Type Statement

The ICO has today (19 June 2026) confirmed Information Commissioner John Edwards has resigned from his position.

As a Crown appointee and accountable to Parliament, Mr Edwards submitted his resignation to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Mr Edwards had voluntarily stepped back from his duties at the end of February to enable an independent workplace investigation. Since then, the ICO’s board and executive team have continued to lead the ICO to deliver our work.

The independent workplace investigation relating to Mr Edwards reached findings for DSIT and the ICO to consider. The investigation concluded that there was a case to answer and made clear that his behaviour fell short of the conduct expected from a public official. At the ICO, these standards are captured in our Dignity at Work Policy, our Code of Conduct and through the Nolan Principles of Public Life.

As set out in our statement on 10 June, the board and the executive team will continue to lead the ICO, aligned to the scheme of delegation, to ensure continuity in our leadership and regulatory work.

20 June 2026: The Secretary of State has now commented on the circumstances of the former Commissioner’s resignation.

Mr Edwards’ actions were completely at odds with our values. We do not accept sexual harassment, bullying or discrimination in any form and have clear policies in place to deal with issues such as these. We’re committed to ensuring a safe culture where all staff are able to raise concerns, knowing they will be taken seriously and trusting that action will be taken where appropriate. This must include concerns raised about the behaviour of the holder of the important and privileged role of Information Commissioner.

Our priority continues to be providing a safe and supportive environment for our staff. We have been unable to comment as the investigation was ongoing, but our utmost focus has always been on supporting those affected. We thank all ICO colleagues for their professionalism and especially those who courageously shared their experiences as part of the independent investigation.

Sincerely,

Alan M Dransfield

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