Lynne Owens

Dame Lynne Gillian Owens, (born 29 January 1969) is a retired senior police officer in the United Kingdom. She was made interim Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service in September 2022 the first-ever such female holder (Helen Ball previously held it on an acting basis in 2021–2022). She retired from the role in May 2025.

She was Assistant Commissioner of Central Operations, then Central Operations and Specialist Crime, with the Metropolitan Police Service from 2010 to 2012, and the Chief Constable of Surrey Police from 2012 to 2015. She then served as Director-General of the National Crime Agency from 2016 to 2021, making her one of the most senior law enforcement chiefs in the United Kingdom at the time. In October 2025, she was appointed to lead an Independent Review into Releases in Error, following the release in error of Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford.

Life Early life and education Owens was born on 29 January 1969. Her father, Edward Crew, was chief constable of West Midlands Police from 1996 to 2002. She studied at the University of Exeter, graduating with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 2008. On promotion to Sergeant, she transferred to Kent Police and began training to become a detective. In the rank of Detective Chief Inspector, she became a senior investigating officer with the force's major crime department.

In 2002, Owens transferred to Surrey Police. Having completed the Strategic Command Course run by the National Policing Improvement Agency, she was made assistant chief constable responsible for territorial operations. She was also part of the Metropolitan Police's senior leadership team during the 2011 England riots, for whose handling they were heavily criticised.

In December 2011, Owens was selected to become the next Chief Constable of Surrey Police.

NCA and Deputy Commissioner On 26 November 2015 it was announced that Owens would be the next head of the National Crime Agency. She replaced the outgoing Director-General and former Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, Keith Bristow QPM, in January 2016. Upon taking up the appointment, she became the then most senior woman in British law enforcement. In September 2021 she announced that she would be retiring afrom that role on medical grounds. She was succeeded by Graeme Biggar on an interim basis.

She did not apply to succeed Cressida Dick as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, but in August 2022 Mark Rowley announced Owens would return to the Metropolitan Police on 12 September that year, holding a six-month post as Interim Deputy Commissioner whilst a permanent holder of that post was recruited at the start of Rowley's own commissionership. Her confirmation as the permanent holder of that role was announced on 20 February 2023. She announced on 25 February 2025 that she would retire in May that year.

Honours Owens was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in the 2008 New Year Honours for distinguished service. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2015 Birthday Honours for services to policing and criminal justice. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (DCB) in the 2021 New Year Honours for service to law enforcement. In February 2023, she was appointed as a deputy lieutenant of Surrey.