Kathleen Daphne Skillern QPM (29 November 1927 – 20 October 2012) was a British police officer. She was the second woman to hold the rank of commander in the London Metropolitan Police (after Shirley Becke) and the first woman to head a branch at Scotland Yard apart from A4 (Women Police), which was disbanded in 1973; in 1974 she took command of CO (Commissioner's Office) Branch, responsible for research and personnel.

Daphne Skillern
Head of C1 Department, Metropolitan Police
In office
August 1977 – 1980
Head of CO Branch, Metropolitan Police
In office
1974 – August 1977
Personal details
Born
Kathleen Daphne Skillern

(1927-11-29)29 November 1927
Died20 October 2012(2012-10-20) (aged 84)

Skillern spent most of her career as a detective in the Criminal Investigation Department. She was promoted to commander on 29 April 1974. In August 1977 she was transferred to head the C1 Department of CID, which included the Obscene Publications Squad, the first woman to head this department.[1] She was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in the 1979 Birthday Honours and retired in 1980.

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ "Woman head of obscene books squad", The Times, 20 August 1977

References edit

Police appointments
Preceded by
Unknown
Commander, CO Branch, Metropolitan Police
1974–1977
Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by Commander, C1 Department, Metropolitan Police
1977–1980
Succeeded by