Lucy D'Orsi
CVO QPM
Chief Constable of British Transport Police
Assumed office
March 2021
Preceded byPaul Crowther
Adrian Hanstock (Temporary Chief Constable, January 2021 to March 2021)
Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Security and Protection
Metropolitan Police
In office
December 2016 – February 2021
Preceded byPat Gallan
Succeeded byBarbara Gray
Personal details
Born
Lucy Clare Copson

December 1969 (age 54)
Leicester, England
Alma materSheffield Hallam University
ProfessionPolice officer

Lucy Clare D'Orsi, CVO, QPM (née Copson; born December 1969) is a British police officer. Since March 2021, she has served as chief constable of British Transport Police. She was deputy assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan Police Service, with responsibility for the Protection Command.

Early life and family

Lucy D'Orsi was born Lucy Copson in Leicester, in December 1969. She married Raffaele D'Orsi in Leicester in 1993.[1] Raffaele was a detective superintendent and deputy borough commander for policing in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. In 2004, Lucy and Raffaele D'Orsi were thanked by author Lynda La Plante for their advice on police procedures for her novel Above Suspicion.[2]

Career

D'Orsi joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1992. She was in charge of the police response to London's largest fire of 2006, in Beaufort Park, Hendon, and has headed special operations relating to illegal weapons.[3] She moved from Enfield to be chief superintendent and borough commander in Hammersmith and Fulham from March 2011 to March 2014[4][5] after which she was promoted to commander in East London.

In 2015, D'Orsi was in charge of security during the visit of Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the United Kingdom[6][7] which was regarded on the British official side as a very difficult visit to arrange as in negotiations the Chinese delegation had wanted their security officials to be able to carry guns and for all anti-Chinese protests to be banned, neither of which demands was agreed to by the Metropolitan Police.[8] During the visit, however, three protestors were arrested and their homes searched resulting in criticism that legitimate protests had been blocked and the response to the protests "heavy handed".[9] In a blogpost written in her official capacity in 2015, D'Orsi rejected accusations that the policing of protests during the visit had been subject to political interference, saying "The policing of the state visit was a matter for the Metropolitan Police Service and any other suggestion is wrong".[10]

D'Orsi was recommended for a commendation for her work during the visit but did not receive it because her performance was seen as part of the natural duties of her role.[8] In May 2016, Queen Elizabeth II was filmed remarking that the Chinese "were very rude to the ambassador", and that it was "bad luck" for D'Orsi to be responsible for security during the visit.[11]

On 3 December 2020, the British Transport Police Authority announced that D'Orsi would be the next chief constable of the British Transport Police. She took over the role from February 2021.[12]

D'Orsi was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in the 2021 Birthday Honours.[13] In 2023, she was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2023 Demise Honours.

Honours


RibbonDescriptionNotes
Royal Victorian Order (CVO)
Queen's Police Medal (QPM)
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
  • 2002
  • UK Version of this Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • 2012
  • UK Version of this Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
  • 2022
  • UK Version of this Medal
King Charles III Coronation Medal
  • 2023
  • UK Version of this Medal
Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

References

  1. ↑ England & Wales marriages 1837-2008 Transcription. Retrieved 11 May 2016. (subscription required)
  2. ↑ La Plante, Lynda. (2004). Above Suspicion. London: Simon and Schuster. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-84739-509-2.
  3. ↑ New Borough Commander Lucy D’Orsi. h&f news, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, 4 March 2011. Archived at Internet Archive. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  4. ↑ Lucy D’Orsi moves to new post. David Millar, H&F Neighbourhood Watch Association, 5 February 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  5. ↑ Hammersmith and Fulham police chief says goodbye to the borough next month. Alix Culbertson, getwestlondon, 17 February 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  6. ↑ Queen caught on camera criticising 'very rude' Chinese officials during sensitive state visit. Chiara Palazzo, The Telegraph, 11 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  7. ↑ Queen caught on camera saying Chinese officials were 'very rude'. Tom Phillips, The Guardian, 11 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  8. 1 2 Line of duty: officer won praise for handling of 'rude' Chinese. The Times, 12 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016. (subscription required)
  9. ↑ Campaigners demand investigation into Met police's handling of China state visit. David Connett, Nigel Morris, Jamie Merrill, The Independent, 23 October 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  10. ↑ Independence of policing the Chinese state visit. Lucy D'Orsi, Metropolitan Police, 23 October 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  11. ↑ UK’s ‘golden era’ with China in balance after Queen comments. Tom Phillips in Beijing and Caroline Davies in London, The Guardian, 11 May 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  12. ↑ Lucy D’Orsi announced as new British Transport Police chief constable Tony Thompson, Police Professional, 3 December 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  13. ↑ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B36.
  14. ↑ "No. 64008". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 March 2023. p. D2.
  15. ↑ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B36.
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