Vera Baird

Dame Vera Baird DBE KC
Baird in 2013
Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales
In office 15 June 2019 – 30 September 2022
Preceded by	The Baroness Newlove
Succeeded by	The Baroness Newlove (Acting)
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner
In office 22 November 2012 – 7 June 2019
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Kim McGuinness
Solicitor General for England and Wales
In office 29 June 2007 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Mike O'Brien
Succeeded by	Edward Garnier
Member of Parliament for Redcar
In office 7 June 2001 – 12 April 2010
Preceded by	Mo Mowlam
Succeeded by	Ian Swales
Personal details
Born	Vera Thomas (1950-02-13) 13 February 1950 (age 74) Chadderton, Lancashire, England
Political party	Labour
Spouses	David Taylor-Gooby ​ ​ (m. 1972; div. 1978)​ Robert Baird ​ ​ (m. 1978; died 1979)​
Residence(s)	South Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Alma mater	Newcastle Polytechnic Open University,[1] London Guildhall University University of Teesside

Dame Vera Baird DBE KC (née Thomas; born 13 February 1950)^[2] is a British barrister and politician who has held roles as a government minister, police and crime commissioner, and Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales.^[3]

A Labour Party Member of Parliament for Redcar from 2001 to 2010, Baird was a government minister from 2006 to 2010 and the Solicitor General for England and Wales from 2007 to 2010. She served as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria Police from November 2012 to June 2019. She was appointed as Victim's Commissioner in June 2019 and resigned in September 2022, accusing government ministers of downgrading victims' interests.

Baird was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to women and equality.^[4]