The Office for Legal Complaints has appointed a police regulator and former justice charity boss to the new standalone post of chief ombudsman.

Kathryn Stone will join the organisation in January from her current post as a commissioner for the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Stone has been at the IPCC since July 2014 with responsibility for seven police forces in the north of England. She was previously the commissioner for victims and survivors in Northern Ireland.

The role of chief ombudsman was previously held in addition to the job of chief executive by Adam Sampson, who left last November.

The OLC has decided to restructure its management to have different people in the two positions, and has already appointed Nick Hawkins as new chief executive. It is expected Stone’s role will be to scrutinise complaints and how they are handled, on a salary up to £105,000 a year.

Stone said: ‘I’m looking forward to meeting with legal service providers and claims management companies to hear their views about how we continue to improve standards for clients.’

For 11 years, Stone was also chief executive of Voice UK, a charity supporting people with learning diabilities and other vulnerable people in the criminal justice system.

Steve Green, chair of the OLC, added: ‘The board were extremely impressed by her track record of strong leadership and independence and we all very much look forward to working with her.’