An inspirational intelligence specialist who has helped take some of the most prolific and dangerous criminals off the streets and found countless missing people has been honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Carole Johnson has spent most of her career working behind closed doors as manager of the sensitive Central Authorities Bureau, running covert tactics and surveillance operations for Durham Constabulary. B
ut she will finally step out into the limelight when she receives her MBE for services to policing.
Recently, Carole played a key role in the investigation into a violent feud between Organised Criminal Gangs which used firearms, arson, and car ramming to terrorise communities in County Durham.
Carole’s expertise and use of new tactics gathered decisive evidence which jailed gang members for a total of 95 years and took out an entire OCG, along with drugs and ammunition from the community.
Her MBE nomination added: “She has successfully traced countless vulnerable children who are missing from home, saving them from sexual exploitation and county lines”.
Carole joined Durham Constabulary in 1996 as an administrator, working at Newton Aycliffe Police Station, followed by posts in the Press Office and CID.
But her direction changed in 2000 when she joined Intelligence, helping to set up the force’s first CAB team and became team manager in 2010.
Her role is to oversee applications for the use of covert surveillance tactics and warrants, advising the Executive and Force Authorising Officer on the legalities and complex rationale required to grant them.
As longest-serving CAB manager in the UK, the 53-year-old has shared her extensive knowledge and experience with colleagues across the country by creating the Regional CAB working group and chairing the National SPOC Managers Forum.
She has also earned a master’s degree in applied criminology during her time at Durham.
Carole said: “I absolutely love my job. You are always learning, there is always something new, whether that is changing technology or changing legislation, so it is always different.
“There are hard days, but the team I work with are amazing people and my job is made easier by them. We have saved some lives and we have locked up some bad people, so I am really passionate about it.”
Among her most memorable jobs during a distinguished career began when she received urgent reports that a woman was about to take her own life.
Carole remembered: “We used tracing techniques and my knowledge of the local area we were able to identify a probable location and send officers to the scene – they found her just in time, with a hosepipe in the car, so we were able to save her life that day.”
Chief Constable Rachel Bacon said: “This is a thoroughly well-deserved honour for Carole and an immensely proud day for Durham Constabulary.
“Perhaps because of the covert nature of their work, some of our teams do not get the public recognition for the incredible work they do to protect the public and achieve justice for victims every day.
“Carole and her team exemplify the very best of Durham Constabulary; she is an inspirational and motivational leader who has repeatedly helped to save lives, pursue criminals and protect some of our most vulnerable people.”