THE chief constable of Surrey Police, Lynne Owens, is set to leave the force to take a prestigious new post as director general of the National Crime Agency (NCA).

News of Ms Owens’ departure was announced less than a fortnight after the chief constable unveiled Surrey Police would have to axe up to 400 jobs to meet £25m budget cuts demanded by central government.

Ms Owens has served as chief constable of Surrey Police since February 2012, succeeding Mark Rowley on his appointment as assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

In that time she has been forced to respond to harsh budget cuts by selling off much of the police estate, including Farnham and Haslemere police stations, and sharing more services with neighbouring forces.

As director general of the NCA, seen as one of the top policing jobs in the country, she will lead the fight against new threats from firearms, cyber criminals and child abusers.

Ms Owens is due to take on her new role on January 4, 2016.

Ms Owens said: “I am absolutely delighted to be selected to lead the National Crime Agency and I look forward to taking on this challenge.

“I intend to build on the outstanding contribution of the outgoing director general, Keith Bristow, and all those in the agency working, with partners, to cut serious and organised crime.

“The threats to the UK from serious and organised crime are changing and the agency will need to continue to build and flex its capabilities accordingly.

“Whether it be stemming the availability of illegal firearms, the fight against organised immigration crime, the threat presented by those who abuse children or the growth in cyber and economic crime, the work required is significant and I have no doubt the agency can continue to rise to that challenge.

“In accepting this new role I must pay tribute to the officers, staff and volunteers of Surrey Police who are unstinting in their efforts to keep people safe from harm.

“It has been an absolute privilege to be their chief constable and I am indeed indebted for their support, determination and good humour.”

Ms Owens started her policing career with the Metropolitan Police in 1989 and following a stint with Kent Police, joined Surrey Police in 2002 as the head of a basic command unit.

Appointed temporary assistant chief constable of Surrey in January 2005, she returned to the Met - the UK’s largest police force - in April 2009 and was promoted to assistant commissioner a year later.

However, in February 2012 she returned to Surrey to become the force’s chief constable - following in the footsteps of her father Sir Edward Crew, who served as chief constable of West Midlands Police between 1996 and 2002.

Ms Owens was awarded the Queens Police Medal for distinguished service in 2008 and, in June 2015, was appointed CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to policing.

As head of the NCA, which replaced the Serious Organised Crime Agency in 2013, she will report directly to the Home Secretary, Teresa May, who expressed her “delight” at the incoming director general’s appointment.

“[Ms Owens’] impressive career includes front-line experience as well as complex national investigations and operations,” said Mrs May.

“Her strong track record of engaging teams and partners, along with her exceptional leadership skills, give me full confidence that she is the best candidate to lead the NCA and continue its vital work to tackle the full range of serious and organised crime threats, including cybercrime, firearms, money laundering and child sexual abuse.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, Kevin Hurley, added: “The Chief Constable has done very well to be appointed to this high profile and very important post at a time when national security is at ‘severe threat’ status.

“I have just spoken to Mike Penning, Minister for Policing, and I have agreed to do my utmost to facilitate her early release from her duties in Surrey.”