The news that the inaugural Nacc (National Anti-Corruption Commission) commissioner, Paul Brereton, has resigned will surprise no one who has been following the unflattering headlines about the Nacc since it began operation three years ago.

But who will replace him, and how will they be chosen? How can the public have confidence they will be not only independent, but have the courage to expose truths that may be uncomfortable for governments, driven by a robust assessment of the public interest?

Many people fought hard for the introduction of a national anti-corruption commission against a backdrop of political apathy. While the Nacc did not meet everyone’s expectations, it was welcomed with high hopes. Three years on, there is a palpable air of disappointment in its performance.

As a former integrity agency head, I know the public never gets the full picture of what goes on behind the locked door. You will get bad press from time to time, though negative headlines can be unfair and undermine the huge amount of good work the staff of an agency do every day without fanfare.

But perception matters. And the perception of independence of an integrity agency is at the........

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