Richard Thomas

Who is Richard Thomas?

Richard James Thomas CBE is best known for his tenure as Information Commissioner of the United Kingdom, a post which he held from December 2002 to June 2009. During his time in office, he raised concerns over the increased use of closed-circuit television and the introduction of ID Cards in the UK.

Thomas is currently Deputy Chairman and co-opted Council Member of the Consumers' Association, Trustee / Director of Whitehall & Industry Group and will be Chairman of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council from 1 September 2009. He is also a visiting professor of Law at Northumbria University.

Born in June 1949, the son of a magistrate, Thomas attended public school and studied law at Southampton University in the late 1960s.

In his early career, he worked as an articled clerk and solicitor with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and the Citizens Advice Bureau, Notting Hill. He then went on to work in legal and public affairs positions with the National Consumer Council and the Office of Fair Trading.