The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, also known as the Runciman Commission, was established on 14 March 1991 by the Home Secretary

Home Secretary

The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...

. The Commission was the continuation of Sir John May

Sir John May

Sir John May was a former Court of Appeal judge appointed by the British Government to investigate the miscarriages of justice related to the Maguire Seven and other miscarriages linked to IRA bombing offences...

's inquiry into the false convictions of the Maguire Seven and extension to other miscarriages of justice. Viscount Runciman

Garry Runciman, 3rd Viscount Runciman of Doxford

Walter Garrison Runciman, 3rd Viscount Runciman of Doxford, CBE, FBA , is a leading British historical sociologist, usually known informally as Garry Runciman...

 was the original chairman.

The Royal Commission reported to Parliament in July 1993 and recommended the establishment of an independent body to:

• Consider suspected miscarriages of justice
• To refer appropriate cases to the Court of Appeal

As a result the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 established the Criminal Cases Review Commission

Criminal Cases Review Commission

The Criminal Cases Review Commission is an non-departmental public body set up following the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice itself a continuation of the May Inquiry. It aims to investigate possible miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...

as an executive Non-Departmental Public Body.