The Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) has announced the appointment of its new Chief Adjudicator, Caroline Hamilton, who will start the role in July.

Hamilton is taking over from Caroline Sheppard OBE, who is retiring after 23 years in post. She is joining the TPT from London Tribunals, where she has been Chief Environment and Traffic Adjudicator since 2010.

Hamilton is a barrister called in 1989. At the Bar, a member of Middle Temple, she undertook a wide variety of criminal (prosecution and defence) and family cases. She was appointed as a part-time London parking adjudicator in 1996 and a fee-paid First-tier Tribunal Judge (Immigration Chamber) in 2000. In 2010, Hamilton left private practice to join London Tribunals, charged with leading the team of adjudicators determining appeals against civil penalty charge notices issued by the London Borough authorities and Transport for London.

Hamilton very much looks forward to the fresh challenge of leading the adjudicators at the TPT, particularly at a time when the jurisdiction is soon expanding to include moving traffic appeals for England (outside London), the nature of which she is very familiar from her time in London.

‘For many motorists, the Tribunal is the first time that they encounter the justice system,’ said Hamilton. ‘It is vital that they, as well as the enforcing authorities, are enabled to engage with the process.’

‘The Traffic Penalty Tribunal is fortunate to have the benefit of an online appeals management system that provides user-friendly access to justice. I am committed to ensuring that all parties have the opportunity to participate in the appeal process, and that appeal proceedings remain open and transparent, informal and expeditious; with adjudicators producing determinations that are timely, focused and easily understood.’

Hamilton will work with outgoing Chief Adjudicator Sheppard during a short handover period.

Stuart Hughes, Chair of the Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL) Joint Committee, which funds and makes provision for the independent adjudication delivered by the TPT – and coordinated the recruitment process for the Chief Adjudicator role – said: ‘Miss Hamilton was exceptional during the selection process. Her long-standing tenure leading the London adjudicators, together with her towering legal experience and acumen, will ensure she hits the ground running in her new role at TPT. I don’t think there could be a better candidate to both maintain the existing high standards of the Tribunal and face some of the emerging challenges as the jurisdiction continues to expand.’

Laura Padden, Director of PATROL, said: ‘With the imminent introduction of new regulations outside of London, Miss Hamilton joins the TPT at a time when her experience and knowledge from the capital will be invaluable to adjudicators, staff and the parties to appeal. She is well respected throughout the industry and I am very much looking forward to working with her.’

Caroline Sheppard OBE, outgoing Chief Adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, said: ‘I am delighted to learn that Miss Hamilton has been appointed to succeed me as Chief Adjudicator. She and I have worked closely together for many years in our respective positions, and her experience is second to none.’

‘For many motorists, the Tribunal is the first time that they encounter the justice system. It is vital that they, as well as the enforcing authorities, are enabled to engage with the process.’

– Caroline Hamilton

For media enquiries, please contact:

Patrick Duckworth
Principal Communications and Digital Consultant, Traffic Penalty Tribunal
pduckworth@trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk