Tributes to ground-breaking prosecutor

The 70-year-old former prosecutor and civil servant died at a London hospital on Sunday. It is understood she had suffered a stroke two weeks earlier.

Former colleagues described her as a “pioneer” and a woman of “infectious enthusiasm and great technical ability”.

The married mother of four had a highly successful career as a barrister before taking on the post of the DPP from 1992-1998.

Peter Lodder QC, chairman of the Bar, said: “Dame Barbara Mills QC was an early and dynamic role model for women barristers.

“She pursued a highly successful career as prosecuting counsel, became director of the Serious Fraud Office and was the first female Director of Public Prosecutions; while also raising a family.

“By her example she contributed significantly to the diverse complexion of the modern profession. We are saddened to hear of her death.”

After leaving her post at the head of the Crown Prosecution Service, Dame Barbara worked as an adjudicator for the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, dealing with complaints from the public. She was a member of the Competition Commission between 2001 - 2009 and until her death held the position of chairman of the Professional Oversight Board, a body monitoring accountancy firms.

Peter Freeman, who was chairman of the Competition Commission when Dame Barbara was a member, said: “Her infectious enthusiasm and great technical ability will be much missed and I personally am utterly shocked that she has gone.”

Guy Thomas, an insolvency lawyer and town councillor for Harpenden South, Hertfordshire, worked as a junior in Dame Barbara’s office at the DPP. He described her as “hard as nails professionally but a genuinely generous boss”.