Police chiefs who led Southport attack investigation honoured

A former chief constable and her senior detective who led the investigation into the Southport knife attack have been honoured by the King.

Dame Serena Kennedy, who retired from leading Merseyside Police last summer, was in charge of the force for four-and-a-half years during a number of high-profile incidents in the area, including the Southport murders.

Speaking after being made a dame, she said policing faced a "real challenge" to get ahead of social media misinformation.

Det Ch Insp Jason Pye, who led the investigation into the Southport attack, has been awarded the King's Police Medal in the King's Birthday Honours.

Following the killing of Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July 2024, false information spread online about the nationality of the perpetrator, Axel Rudakubana, sparking unrest across the country.

In the wake a stabbing attack in Belfast on Monday, which sparked calls for wider protests over immigration on social media, Dame Serena said: "I mean, I think it's a real challenge for policing to get ahead of it.

"We certainly found that in Southport, in terms of policing.

"We always try to be as open and honest and transparent in terms of our communication, but the speed that the influencers give out information, again, we try and dispel the rumours and the myths as quickly as we can.

"But I think policing finds it hard to keep up with the speed in which that misinformation and disinformation gets out, and it's really having an impact on policing, impacting on trust and confidence."

Dame Serena said she was reassured by the support from the community during unrest in Southport that summer.

"The reassurance for me was it really felt like the majority of the community was standing side by side with us," she said.

She said food parcels were left at police stations and officers were sent messages of support.

Dame Serena, who was awarded the King's Police Medal in June 2023, said during her time at the helm, Merseyside saw some of its "darkest days".

She said: "It saw some brilliant events to celebrate, but it saw some dark days, but I always felt really proud of all the communities of Merseyside, I think they demonstrated the very best of Merseyside."

Now working in consulting, Dame Serena said she was "shocked" when she received a letter informing her of her damehood in the King's Birthday Honours.

Asked what it feels like to have become Dame Serena, she said: "It sounds very bizarre, and not something I ever expected or anticipated.

"I was really, really shocked when I got the letter, but yes, absolutely thrilled, delighted, pretty humbled, if I'm honest."

"My family and friends have been there every step of the way, every opportunity that came up," she added.

"I can't remember which incident it was, but I know my husband was away and I was working incredibly long hours and came home to find somebody had left a lasagne on my front doorstep.

"It lasted me three nights, and it was the nicest lasagne I think I've ever eaten."

Following the announcement, Merseyside Police chief constable Rob Carden congratulated Dame Serena and Det Ch Insp Pye on their honours, which he called "richly deserved".

"During eight years at Merseyside Police, Serena was wholly committed to protecting and serving the communities of Merseyside," he said.

"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 said Det Ch Insp Pye "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 added.

He said Det Ch Insp Pye "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".

Det Ch Insp Pye "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," he added.

"I am in no doubt that his leadership contributed directly to the voluntary guilty plea entered on the first day of trial."

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