Daphne Skillern

Daphne Skillern

Kathleen Daphne Skillern QPM (born c.1928) 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.

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 Obscene Publications Squad.

She was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in the 1979 Birthday Honours.

Police appointments
Preceded by
Kenneth Hannam
Commander, Obscene Publications Squad, Metropolitan Police
1977–?
Succeeded by
Pat Carson

References

  • "Woman head of obscene books squad", The Times, 20 August 1977