Police Long Service & Good Conduct Medal Review

[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

[Robin Lumsden]

Maybe they'll 'up' the Specials' medal from 9 years to 20/22 years!

That'd make even more sense.