Australian lawyer Michael McColm has been appointed Principal Crown counsel and deputy director of the Department of Public Prosecutions

Mr. McColm will manage the criminal litigation programme in the DPP's offices and will also conduct criminal prosecutions, advise Police, ministries and other departments on criminal matters.

Mr. McColm holds law degrees from the University of New South Wales and University of Sydney and was admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales in 1979 and a barrister in 1988.

He was acting deputy director of public prosecutions and senior Crown prosecutor in the Solomon Islands, handling high profile cases including murders.