At the time of the Inquiry, Chair of the Association of Police Authorities and member and of West Yorkshire Police. Burns-Williamson was appointed OBE for services to Community and Policing in the 2012 Honours List.
Professor of Sociology at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge at time of giving evidence. Has written on aspects of the relation between politics and the media, including The Media and Modernity (1995) and Political Scandal (2000). Answered questions on the nature of a free press, which he said would be pluralistic, represent a diversity of views, inform citizens fairly and accurately on matters of public concern and hold power to account.
