Police Information

Gloden Jubilee Medal Snub.

Mon, September 17, 2001

Source: Police Federation

Anger expressed by Plice Federation over decision not to award Golden Jubilee medals to police.

 

The Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales has today expressed anger over the decision not to award police officers Golden Jubilee medals.

The Federation had written to the Home Office asking ministers to review the decision to only award them to the military. 

But, in a letter from the Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport – which is now responsible for the award – the Federation has been told ‘it would not be appropriate to re-open the matter’. 

The letter states the decision to restrict the medal’s availability to the Armed Forces and Royal Fleet Auxiliary reflected the uniformed Armed Forces’ ‘unique and close relationship with the Crown’ and ‘a long, unbroken tradition’ of issuing commemorative medals. 

Yet police officers, who are not ordinary employees and are themselves appointed under the Crown, have been awarded Jubilee Medals since the reign of Queen Victoria and her Golden Jubilee celebrations in1887 when every officer was honoured.

“Police officers feel slighted at this insensitive decision and I am angry and disappointed for them,” said Fred Broughton, Chairman of the Police Federation.

The Government seems to have initiated, in an arbitrary fashion, new criteria for the receipt of medals which can only serve to devalue a service which itself has a unique and close relationship with the Crown. 

“Officers swear allegiance to the Crown, regularly put their lives on the line to protect life and property and uphold the rule of law. They deserve to be recognised not repudiated.”