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The head of Northumbria Police has been made a Dame in recognition of a life-long fight for gender equality.

Vera Baird QC, Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), had one of the country’s most prestigious awards bestowed upon her in this year’s New Year Honours list.

Dame Vera, 66, has made equality and protection for women a priority throughout her professional life.

Working as a lawyer, she defended feminist protesters, fought in pregnancy discrimination cases and helped to shape law in domestic violence cases by defending an abused women accused of the murder of a violent partner.

She spent ten years as MP for Redcar, serving as solicitor general for England and Wales for three of those.

During that time, she launched the first CPS strategy to counter violence against women and girls and played a key role in shaping the Equality Act which is in place today.

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She has headed up Northumbria Police since the office of PCC was created in 2012, and has continued to work for the cause of gender equality in that role.

Pushing for greater support for victims of domestic abuse, campaigning on issues including stalking and forced marriage and developing a specific violence against women and girls strategy, Dame Vera has said she wants the force to be “at the forefront” of protecting vulnerable women and girls in the North East.

On receiving the honour, she said: “I feel truly proud to receive this honour, and see it as giving the cause of equality a boost.

“I would like to thank all the many people who have supported, helped and encouraged me over the years. We must continue to work together to achieve the equality we are fighting for.”

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And she used her award as an opportunity to push for further work to for equality for all groups.

“There have been great advances but there is still more to do,” she said.

“It is important we also continue addressing other forms of equality, across race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and the other protected strands in the Equality Act 2010, which I helped to take through Parliament, as Solicitor General.”