Julie Spence

Julie Spence OBE^[1] was the Chief Constable for Cambridgeshire Constabulary from 10 December 2005 to 5 September 2010.^[2] She made headline news over demanding more officers due to the recent rise in immigration.

Spence is the current president of the British Association for Women in Policing and is the ACPO lead on citizen focus issues. In 2006 she won the Champion Award for her commitment and achievement in her role as a gender champion. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Policing career

In 1978 Spence joined Avon and Somerset Police and was posted to South Bristol. After a period of service, which included postings to CID, community policing, the force communications centre, the Family and Child Protection Unit, the Press Office and uniform patrol, she was seconded to the Association of Chief Police Officers secretariat in London for two years as a Temporary Chief Inspector.

On returning to Avon and Somerset Spence undertook a number of operational roles before being promoted to Superintendent and posted to North Bristol. She is an advocate of lifelong learning and during her career continued her personal development and consequently undertook part-time and distance learning degree courses in law, police studies and management. In 1999 she was appointed to Assistant Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police, where she held the Corporate Development portfolio. She took over the Territorial Policing portfolio in January 2003.

She was appointed to Deputy Chief Constable for Cambridgeshire Constabulary in April 2004 and was responsible for Operational Policing for the County.

On 1 June 2005 Spence was appointed Acting Chief Constable and subsequently appointed to Chief Constable on 10 December 2005.^[6] She retired from Cambridgeshire Constabulary on the 5 September 2010.

Awarding of the OBE

In the Queen’s 80th birthday honours list Spence was appointed an OBE for the following reasons:

• Management of complex and contentious organisational issues
• Leadership of Thames Valley’s contribution to the operations to protect Heathrow and the Queen Mother’s funeral
• Work for the ACPO Terrorism and Allied Matters Committee on Royalty and VIP Protection
• Strong leadership and determination in taking forward the Gender Agenda and the development of the British Association of Women in Policing ^[7]

Charitable Associations

Spence is currently an ambassador for the Charity SkillForce.

References

1. The London Gazette: no. 58014. p. 10. 17 June 2006.
2. "BAWP Profile of Julie Spence" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-06-01.
3. "Spence: Force to be reckoned with". Cambridge Evening News. 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
4. Peck, Sally (2007-09-21). "Police chief warns of migrant crime impact". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
5. "Police chief fears migrant impact". BBC News. 2007-09-19. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
6. "BAWP Profile of Julie Spence" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-06-01.
7. "BAWP Profile of Julie Spence" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-06-01.