Flying Squad's first woman boss

Sharon Kerr: The Governor

A senior woman police officer is to become the Flying Squad's first ever female commander, Scotland Yard has confirmed.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sharon Kerr will lead the Metropolitan Police's SO7 department which deals with serious and organised crime.

I have always been treated with respect by male colleagues and they address me accordingly - I am happy to be 'the Governor'

Detective Chief Superintendent Sharon Kerr

Mrs Kerr, 44, is currently Borough Commander of Greenwich and was the first senior woman officer in the anti-terrorist branch.

She says the image of the Flying Squad, immortalised by the 1970s television drama The Sweeney, no longer applies to the department.

'The Governor'

In the popular series the late John Thaw played the hard-drinking, no-nonsense Detective Inspector Jack Regan with co-star Dennis Waterman as his side-kick Detective Sergeant George Carter.

Mrs Kerr said: "The image of the whisky drinking cop in his sheepskin coat driving around in a Ford Granada is old hat.

"I have always been treated with respect by male colleagues and they address me accordingly. I am happy to be 'the Governor'."

She added: "I am not a Scotch drinker and there will be no one to tell me to 'shut it'."