The Home Secretary has announced Gaon Haat as the new Director-General of the Immigration Department following an unusual appointment process under the Governance Regulations for Public Appointments.
Mr Hart took over the ISC role on December 12, replacing John Tackett, who was appointed as Border and Immigration’s independent chief inspector earlier this year. To ensure continuity among committee members, Mr. Tackett had been serving in the role on a part-time basis since October.
Mr. Hart brings extensive experience in regulatory leadership, legal expertise, and public service to this role. He currently chairs the England and Wales Police Advisory Board, a position he will hold from summer 2025, and is interim chair of the NHS Fraud Office, which oversees the prevention, protection and investigation of the £1.3 billion annual fraud risk facing the UK healthcare sector. He plans to continue in both of these roles.
Mr. Hart, a renowned legal expert and compliance strategist, is a managing director of Legal Advisory Worldwide. The Legal Advisory Worldwide is a specialist consulting firm specializing in economic crime prevention for global businesses in the private and public sectors, and brings a wealth of technology and AI experience to the role. He works closely with police forces and other regulatory bodies on misconduct hearings and standards, and was previously Chief Prosecutor for Public Corruption at the Crown Prosecution Service.
The Commissioner of Immigration plays a key role in regulating immigration advisers, protecting vulnerable consumers from poor quality advice and maintaining standards across the immigration advice sector through the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA). The role includes clamping down on those offering unregulated and illegal advice, protecting people facing complex and life-changing decisions.
Immigration and Citizenship Minister Mike Tapp said:
Gaon Hart brings exceptional experience in regulatory leadership, legal expertise and tackling complex fraud and fraud issues, which will be invaluable in his new role as Director of Immigration.
I would also like to thank John Tackett for his outstanding service as Commissioner of Immigration over the past six years. During that time, he successfully transformed the organization and strengthened protections for people seeking immigration advice.
Immigration Commissioner Gaon Hart said:
I am honored to be appointed Commissioner of Immigration and will work hard to ensure that people seeking immigration advice receive the highest quality of support and protection. Similarly, those providing critical regulatory advice require support and assurance from strong regulators.
The Office of Immigration Advice plays a critical role in maintaining public confidence in the Immigration Advice Unit and I look forward to working with our regulated advisors, stakeholders and dedicated IAA team to build on the strong foundation established by my predecessors.
The Commissioner of Immigration is responsible for ensuring that immigration advice provided by regulated advisers meets high professional standards and that those seeking advice are protected from unqualified or unscrupulous advisers. It also has a responsibility to investigate and prosecute those providing illegal advice, providing reassurance to the industry.
This unusual appointment will ensure continuity of the important work of regulating immigration advice services as part of the Government’s commitment to maintaining robust standards across the immigration system. Mr. Hart was appointed to a five-year term under the Immigration and Asylum Act of 1999.
