Christ Church Honorary Doctor Lynne Owens CBE QPM MA and Director General of the National Crime Agency (NCA) has been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (DCB).

The New Year’s Honours 2021 lists, published on 30 December 2020, marks the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom.

Lynne Owens receives the recognition for exemplary and inspirational leadership in cutting serious and organised crime and protecting the UK public after multiple successes by the NCA.

Ms Owens became Director General of the National Crime Agency (NCA) in January 2016, following a 27-year career as a police officer. She is a member of the Government’s National Security Council and chairs the National Strategic Tasking and Coordination Group. An experienced police officer, Lynne joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1989 and served initially as a Constable in Catford. She later moved to Kent Police as a Sergeant where she rose to the rank of Detective Chief Inspector and Senior Investigating Officer within the Force’s Major Crime Department.

In addition, Lynne Owens is also honoured for a career-long commitment to protecting the vulnerable in her more than 31 years in law enforcement. More than 8,000 children have been safeguarded as a result of NCA activity since 2016, while as policing lead on the Sentencing Council, Lynne supported work to reform sexual offences guidelines.

Lynne Owens received her Honorary Doctorate from Christ Church in September 2018 at a ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral.

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