Crown Agent awarded CBE in New Year Honours

Catherine Dyer, Crown Agent and chief executive of the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service, has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year Honours List announced today.

Cited for her services to law and order, Ms Dyer thanked staff after the news was released for their work and dedication. During her time as Crown Agent, COPFS has moved to more specialist working, including the Health and Safety Division and the Cold Cases Unit.

COPFS has also been placed at number 8 in the Stonewall UK Top 100 employers and named Stonewall Scotland Best Public Sector Employer in 2013 and 2014, and won the UK award for Best Equalities Team from the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion. 

Ms Dyer commented: “It is a privilege to have had the opportunity to serve as Crown Agent. I owe much to the steadfast support of my family and the hard work and dedication of all my colleagues in the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service.

"Over recent years, our major focus on prosecuting hate crimes, domestic abuse and cold cases has attracted international recognition.

“At the same time, the building of our reputation as a leading promoter of equality and diversity make me very proud to work for the COPFS of today, which has become a prime contributor to the delivery of Justice for the people of Scotland.”

Among other honours, Paul Grice, clerk and chief executive of the Scottish Parliament, is to receive a knighthood for services to the Scottish Parliament and also voluntary service to higher education and the community in Scotland. Two women with legal academic connections are awarded the OBE: Nancy Loucks, chief executive of Families Outside and visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde Centre for Law, Crime and Justice, for services to education and human rights; and Susan McVie, Professor of Quantitative Criminology at the University of Edinburgh, for services to social sciences.