Warwick Bear

Following a long standing campaign by a Warwickshire Police officer to bring parity to the long service medals of the United Kingdom Emergency Services, the Home Office have just announced that a review will now be conducted. As recently as 12 January 2009, the Policing Minister (Vernon Coaker MP) had refused to review the Police medal. However, following pressure from all sides, the Home Office have done a u-turn and sent a letter to all Chief Officers and announced that a review will now take place, with a view to bringing the Police Medal into line with the others and awarding it to recipients who qualify at 20 years service. Pauline Laybourne from the Home Office stated in the letter that an appropriate time will now be needed to consult all relevant partners and stakeholders. No time scale has been given. The current Award Criteria are: Police Medal 22 years service with good conduct Fire Medal 20 years service with good conduct Ambulance Medal 20 years service with good conduct Prison Medal 20 years service with good conduct

The Police, Fire & Ambulance long service medals all require the good conduct element. The Royal Mint presentation boxes all say for long service and good conduct. The reverse of all the medals says for exemplary service. The Royal Warrants state that no individual who qualifies by virtue of time can be nominated unless her/his character and conduct is very good.

Gentlemen, As a serving Police Officer we are currently lobbying the Government to bring the UK Emergency Services Long Service & Good Conduct Medals into line. By that we ask that the Police LS&GC medal be reduced by two years to bring parity to the Emergency Services long service medals. The Govt have just instituted a Prison Service LS&GC, also at 20 years! (I have details if anyone is interested). We have just received a letter from the Policing Minister (Vernon Coaker MP) that says some of the medals are only for long service and that not all require a good conduct element!!!!! We in the Police are stumped as we know our Police LS&GC requires 22 years full time service with good conduct, we believe the Fire LS&GC requires 20 years full or part time service with good conduct and we believe the Abmulance LS&GC requires 20 years full or part time service (7 years 999 Emergency Duties) with good conduct. Can anyone help please? Please contact Ken Fowler at ken.fowler@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk Many thanks, Ken