New U.K. Police Medal

[bigjarofwasps]

Happened across this petition, on social media. 
 

Thought it might be of interest?

 

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/644677?fbclid=IwAR0sR6MGOgpUVTpGr-wH275va2x7yU3GfP7DbsEGh7XUzEA4QUG5ix3alxY_aem_AWODQLuSHiKwEMXKTaUJ7loV7W6ULhfF0o4qgJWE7yP-GSttr5T6Ey8CRmOz1aF95zU

 

 

[Megan]

Interesting. I'd heard that some people were campaigning for an award for police officers killed in the line of duty, akin to the Elizabeth Cross for armed forces personnel who die in the line of duty - but one for being injured is unprecedented in the UK.

 

It's something we don't do, unlike many nations wo have them for at least the armed forces (e.g. USA Purple Heart) or both armed forces & police (e.g., Austria who issue a separare but similar medal to the 2 categories).

 

Do you think it's a good idea? And should it be extended to all emergency services?

[dpk]

This is not a new concept elsewhere, example the Western Australia Police Force created a medal for award to all officers who are killed on active duty or who become medically retired due to injury or illness to which police duties were a contributor. It also allowed payment by the force of continuing related medical costs after the injured officer's retirment. The medal has had two versions- the first, the round medal shown, was introduced in 2017. A year later the second 'Star' version replaced the first version, as it was discovered that an extremely similar medal had been created by the State of Victoria Police Force for a similar purpose. An example of two forces thinking on the same lines but not communicating- where have we heard that before?

[Dave Wilkinson]

DPK,

 

Its interesting to see that the medals to which you refer are "created" by individual Australian police forces as opposed to being a "national" award approved by Parliament. That suggests that (two or three?) individual forces have found the need to "fill the gap" for want of better words. If that were to happen here in the UK, and I don't think that legally there is anything to prevent it, then such medals would be regarded as "unapproved" and would need to be worn on the opposite side of the chest to awards approved by the Sovereign by Royal Warrant under his Sign Manual. 

 

The creation of such awards and monetary allowances'  here by individual forces would be akin to the merit and commend badges which some UK forces issue. Nothing more and nothing less.

 

I think it unlikely that (unlike Australia) UK forces would go it alone.

 

If such a thing were to come to fruition here nationally, and it was not far reaching in terms of eligibility, there would quickly be a petition created to award medals posthumously to every police officer killed on duty (or pensionably injured) since the beginning of the last century. Where is the line to be drawn?  

 

In my opinion the whole concept of medals being issued (for whatever reason) appears to be getting out of hand. Everybody wants one, in some cases whether they are entitled to it or not! If care is not taken many will become nothing but questionable/meaningless trinkets   

 

Dave.  

 

 

Edited September 29, 2023 by Dave Wilkinson

[dpk]

Hi Dave, I tend to agree with your sentiments. Australia has a national awards system which includes two medals specific to the police of the nation (of any State) and each State in turn has various medals they issue to their own specific forces. Curiously, some States do wear their State medals on the right, whereas Western Australia sought and gained official approval from the Federal Government to wear their medals on the left breast, after national awards but before any foreign award.

 

Australia does issue national Bravery awards, and any person is eligible but to police officers generally a bravery award specific to police is often more meaningful. The answer of course would be for the national government to create a specific police gallantry award such as the QPM. There is a QPM equivalent medal here (the Australian Police Medal) but it is only awarded for 'Distinguished Service' and not for 'Gallantry as the old KPM was.

[Dave Wilkinson]

David,

 

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Its appreciated. In particular, I was not aware of the fact that the APM could not be awarded for gallantry.

 

Dave.