Anne Owers
Dame Anne Elizabeth Owers, Mrs. Cook, née Spark, DBE (born 23 June 1947) was Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. Owers was the fifth holder of the post, appointed in August 2001, succeeding David Ramsbotham. Her appointment was renewed in June 2006 and in March 2008.[1] She is now head of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Prior to this post she was Director of JUSTICE, the UK-based human rights and law reform organisation.[2]
Owers was educated at Washington Grammar School, County Durham, and at Girton College, Cambridge. On graduating she went to Zambia to teach and to carry out research into African history. While taking time out to bring up her three children, Owers continued to undertake research and voluntary advice and race relations work.[3]
In June 2008, she was appointed Chair of Christian Aid, in succession to John Gladwin.[4] She opposed the Government's former proposal to build "Titan jails".[5]
Owers was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000 for her work in human rights[6] and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.[7][8]
In 2010, Owers was appointed to the position of Chair of Clinks, a charity that supports the work of the voluntary and community sector working with offenders and their families. She is also a Trustee of The Butler Trust.[9] She was appointed head of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in March 2012.
References
- ^ Community Care, June 2006 "Anne Owers appointment extended". She was replaced in 2010 by Nick Hardwick.
- ^ BBC News report, 1 August 2001: "Anne Owers: Campaigner turned prison watchdog".
- ^ Times online, 12 January 2008: "Anne Owers knows what life's like on the inside speaks out: Anne Owers says new ‘superjails’ may not solve prisons crisis" by Helen Rumbelow and Alice Miles (with biographical notes).
- ^ The Guardian, 25 June 2008, "SocietyGuardian" section p.10, Column c "Ins and Outs".
- ^ Report (30 January 2008) of BBC Radio interview on the "Today" programme with Anne Owers.
- ^ Citation for appointment as pro chancellor of South Bank University in 2005.
- ^ "No. 58929". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 31 December 2008. - ^ The Guardian, 31 December 2008
- ^ "Anne Owers is charity Clinks' new Chair". Clinks. Retrieved 2010-08-11.