Former Chief Constable and Detective Chief Inspector named in King's Birthday honours

A former Chief Constable of Merseyside Police and a Detective Chief Inspector have today been named in the King’s Birthday honours.

Former Merseyside Police Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy received a damehood for Services to Policing while Detective Chief Inspector Jason Pye has been awarded the King’s Police Medal.

Serena served in policing for 32 years, starting her career as a Constable at Greater Manchester Police in 1993 before moving to Cheshire Constabulary and arriving at Merseyside Police as an Assistant Chief Constable in 2017. In April 2021, she became the first female Chief Constable in the history of Merseyside Police.  Serena’s damehood follows her receipt of the King’s Police Medal in the 2023 in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Jason Pye joined the Force as a Constable in January 2003, rising through the ranks to become a Detective Chief Inspector. In July 2024, he was tasked with leading the investigation into the tragic murders of Alice, Bebe and Elsie in Southport on 29 July 2024.

Following the announcement, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Rob Carden said: "On behalf of the force I would like to congratulate both Serena and Jason on their honours, which are richly deserved.

“During eight years at Merseyside Police, Serena was wholly committed to protecting and serving the communities of Merseyside.  Serena’s time as Chief Constable was marked by a number of major and tragic incidents, including the Women’s Hospital Bombing, the Covid pandemic, the deaths of innocent victims caught up in gun crime in 2022 and of course the dreadful murder of Alice, Bebe and Elsie in Southport in 2024 - as well as the subsequent disorder.

“Her leadership, compassion for victims and families and her engagement with communities during and after these incidents was outstanding and well worthy of the recognition she is receiving today.”

Chief Constable Carden added: “Jason led the investigation into the tragic murders of Alice, Bebe and Elsie with incredible professionalism and humanity.

“Despite the tragedy being one of the most professionally and emotionally challenging incidents this force has ever investigated, Jason never bowed from his commitment to secure justice for the victims, their families and all those affected.

“He brought not only his considerable technical expertise, but profound compassion to the investigation and he was determined to document the experiences of all those affected, placing the wellbeing of victims and their devastated families at the very heart of the investigation and providing them with much-needed answers.

“Leading meticulous forensic examinations and an extensive trawl of wider intelligence, Jason worked tirelessly with the Crown Prosecution Service, national law‑enforcement partners, and partners in Health, Defence and Local Authorities to build a comprehensive evidential picture. I am in no doubt that his leadership contributed directly to the voluntary guilty plea entered on the first day of trial.”

Serena Kennedy said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this honour. It is a privilege I never expected, and one I accept with immense pride.

“Although this recognition is awarded to me, I see it as a tribute to the outstanding work carried out every single day by the officers and staff of Merseyside Police, together with our partners across the Liverpool City Region and the communities we serve. During my time as Chief Constable, I had the privilege of witnessing the very best of our region.

“Together, we faced some of the most challenging moments in recent years, when our communities demonstrated remarkable resilience, compassion and strength. I also saw our region shine on the world stage as we hosted major events such as the Eurovision Song Contest, showcasing Liverpool’s warmth, creativity and generosity to millions around the globe.

“I am immensely proud to have served as Chief Constable of Merseyside Police and of the work we undertook locally to strengthen trust and confidence in policing. I was also honoured to lead national programmes of work, including the integrity screening project, alongside dedicated colleagues from across the service. None of this would have been possible without the exceptional commitment, professionalism and courage of officers and staff across Merseyside, who consistently go above and beyond to protect the public, support the most vulnerable and deliver the highest standards of service, often in the most demanding circumstances.

“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout my 32 years in policing. Their encouragement, patience and understanding have been invaluable.

“Finally, I want to pay tribute to the officers and staff of Merseyside Police, who continue to achieve remarkable things every day to keep people safe and support those most in need. Serving alongside them has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I share this honour with them.

“As I continue my policing journey, I remain as committed as ever to the values of public service, integrity and fairness that have guided me throughout my career.”

Detective Inspector Jason Pye said: "I am deeply humbled to have been considered for a Kings Police Medal for service to the people of Merseyside. It represents the pinnacle of my career and is the greatest honour I could ever receive.

"But I accept it with a profound awareness of the tragedy that brought us together, the young lives so heartbreakingly lost, their families, and those who survived but will carry the impact of that day for the rest of their lives.

"This recognition is not mine alone. It belongs first and foremost to my family, whose strength, compassion, and steadfast support carried me through the most difficult moments and made every challenge surmountable.

"It also belongs to my colleagues, whose dedication and integrity never wavered, and those affected whose resilience, and tenacity gave me the strength to keep going through the hardest moments."

Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “My warmest congratulations to Dame Serena Kennedy on this richly deserved honour.

“Receiving a Damehood is a fitting tribute to a policing career defined by integrity and a commitment to public service. Throughout her time as Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Serena demonstrated remarkable leadership, guiding the force and our region through some of the most challenging and complex events in recent history with professionalism, compassion and determination.

“From responding to major incidents such as the explosion at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, the tragic murders of Ava White, Sam Rimmer, Ashley Dale, Olivia Pratt-Korbel, and Elle Edwards and the Southport tragedy, to leading the force through the unprecedented pressures of the pandemic and delivering a safe and successful Eurovision, Serena’s focus was always protecting our communities and doing what is right.

“As Merseyside’s first female Chief Constable, she is also an inspiring role model, paving the way for future generations of women in policing and public service.

“Under her leadership, Merseyside Police was consistently recognised as one of the best performing metropolitan forces in the country, achieving significant reductions in crime and driving forward innovative approaches such as EVOLVE, to tackle serious and organised crime.

“On behalf of the people of our region, I thank her sincerely for her decades of service and her dedication to keeping our communities safe.

“I would also like to extend my sincere congratulations to Chief Inspector Jason Pye on being awarded the King’s Policing Medal. This is an equally well-deserved honour recognising his leadership, professionalism and humanity during one of the most high-profile and harrowing investigations Merseyside Police has ever faced.

“As Senior Investigating Officer, following the awful murders of Bebe, Alice and Elsie in Southport, Jason demonstrated not only strong investigative skill and resilience, but also remarkable compassion in the face of unimaginable tragedy. His determination to ensure that victims and their families were treated with dignity, care and understanding was central to the investigation, placing their wellbeing at its very heart.

“Leading a complex and emotionally demanding inquiry under intense scrutiny, he brought together partners across policing and beyond to build a comprehensive and compelling evidential case. His work has rightly been recognised as a leading example of investigative practice at a national level.

“Jason’s conduct throughout this investigation reflects the best of British policing.”