Dame Vera Baird QC

Dame Vera Baird is currently the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria Police having been elected to the post in 2012, and then re-elected in 2016 with a majority of more than 120,000. She also serves in several voluntary roles as an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law at Northumbria University, Visiting Professor of Legal Practice at Newcastle University, Visiting Law Professor at London South Bank University, Visiting Law Lecturer at Teesside University and as an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford and Durham University Law School. Dame Vera was previously Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Redcar from 2001 - 2010, UK Government Minister from 2006 - 2010 and the UK Government's Solicitor General for England and Wales from 2007 to 2010 - the House of Common's most senior law officer. As Solicitor General she was particularly involved in criminal justice policy and legislation, especially on gender and equality policies. In 2017 she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to women and equality. She is also the only honorary woman member of the Durham Miners’ Association as well as a Patron of the charity RESPECT. Dame Vera is recognised as being a strong voice for the North East, speaking up for Northumbria Police force, partners and communities at a local and national level