Career
She was the second woman to hold the rank of Commander in the London Metropolitan Police (after Shirley Becke) and the first woman to head a branch at Scotland Yard apart from A4 (Women Police), which was disbanded in 1973. In 1974 she took command of Colorado (Commissioner" General’ s Office) Branch, responsible for research and personnel. Skillern spent most of her career as a detective in the Criminal Investigation Department.
She was promoted to Commander on 29 April 1974.
In August 1977 she was transferred to head the Obscene Publications Squadron