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The Deputy Commissioner of the Met Police, Dame Lynne Owens, is to retire from policing after a 35-year career including many high profile roles.
Prior to rejoining the Met in 2022 as deputy to Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, Dame Lynne had retired on ill-health grounds from her role as Director of the National Crime Agency. Remarking on her decision to return to policing, Sir Mark said: “Her commitment to communities, officers and staff is unwavering and illustrated by her determination to step back into policing months after recovering from cancer, when the Met was at a critical moment.”
Announcing her retirement, which will happen in late May, Dame Lynne said it had been an honour and privilege to support Sir Mark to implement change in the Met.
“I am proud of the progress we have made and our people deserve so much credit for their role in identifying what needed to be done and then delivering that for Londoners.
“Of course, there remains much, much more to do and I know my successor, once appointed, will build on what we have achieved so far.”
Dame Lynne Owens.
Starting her career in Catford, South London in 1989 and working in different forces through the following decades where Dame Lynne became the first female Chief Constable for Surrey Police, Sir Mark said that her contribution to policing over the last three decades had been “astonishing and cannot be underestimated.” He described her as “one of the most talented and dedicated police officers of her generation.”
“She has shown her relentless passion for policing by playing a pivotal role in leading the officers and staff of the Met to improve our service to Londoners. This has culminated in our exit from ‘special measures’ as accredited by HMICFRS. Dame Lynne is unique in having both an unparalleled eye for detail and an ability to exude compassion and empathy for all colleagues.
“I hugely admire Dame Lynne, and I am profoundly grateful personally and professionally for her immense support working together over the past two-and-a-half years. London has a far better police service because of her.”
Sir Mark Rowley.
The Met said that the process to appoint the next Deputy Commissioner will be discussed by the Commissioner, Home Secretary and Mayor.
Read more about the changes taking place in the Met Police – Met Police is out of special measures.
