CAMBRIDGESHIRE S most senior police officer has been honoured for her leadership in promoting the agenda for women in policing. Julie Spence, 50, who has been chief constable of Cambridgeshire for the past 12 months and was previously deputy to her predec

CAMBRIDGESHIRE'S most senior police officer has been honoured for her leadership in promoting the agenda for women in policing.

Julie Spence, 50, who has been chief constable of Cambridgeshire for the past 12 months and was previously deputy to her predecessor, Tom Lloyd, became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in The Queen's Birthday Honours last weekend.

The citation for her honour refers to the successful handling of complex and contentious organisational issues at Cambridgeshire, Thames Valley, and Avon and Somerset constabularies.

At Thames Valley police, where she was assistant chief constable before moving to Cambridgeshire as deputy in 2004, she led an operation to protect Heathrow Airport, in partnership with the Metropolitan and Surrey forces. And she was praised for her handling of the Thames Valley policing operation at the Queen Mother's funeral.

Her professional career includes working with the Association of Chief Police Officers terrorism and allied matters committee on royalty and VIP protection and counter

terrorism tactics.

The OBE citation adds: "Her leadership of the gender agenda and the British Association for Women in Policing has been a major driver of the national agenda for gender equality in British policing."

Mrs Spence, who lives in Cambridge, described the OBE as a great honour.

She said: "I am particularly pleased that the work I and others have done to advance British policing and the role of women in policing has been recognised in this way. And my achievements have only been possible thanks to the co-operation, professionalism and support of many colleagues and friends."

Michael Williamson, chairman of the Cambridgeshire Police Authority, said: "The prestigious honour confirms our belief in Julie as a strong leader, both locally and on the national stage.

"Her contribution to policing in Cambridgeshire is well documented and in the national arena she has demonstrated that she is top of her class on gender issues in today's police service.

"The authority is exceptionally proud to have a chief constable such as Julie at the helm, contributing greatly to the advancement of policing in the UK and here in Cambridgeshire."

Also in the list was another member of police staff at Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Graham Broom, 52, head of IS/IT, received an MBE marking his services to policing. Mr Broom, a member of the force's executive board, oversees the constabulary's information management strategy and is an advisor to the ACPO terrorism committee.

Mr Williamson said: "Graham Broom is a prime example of the dedicated and professional people we have working for Cambridgeshire Constabulary. We would like to thank Graham for his hard work and congratulate him on the worthy recognition he has received for services to policing.