Queen's Police Medal
Encyclopedia
The Queen's Police Medal (QPM) is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom
and Commonwealth
for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters
"QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969. It was created on 19 May 1954, when it replaced the King's Police and Fire Services Medal (KPFSM), which itself replaced the King's Police Medal (KPM) in 1940. The KPM was introduced by a Royal Warrant
of 7 July 1909, initially inspired by the need to recognise the gallantry of the police officers involved in the Tottenham Outrage
.
and Crown Dependencies; 30 from the dominions; and 50 from the Empire of India. More could be awarded in exceptional circumstances. The ribbon was to be "an inch and three eighths in width, [...] dark blue with a narrow silver stripe-on either
side" those who received further awards of the medal were to wear a silver bar
on the ribbon in lieu of a further issue of the medal, or a rosette where the ribbon alone was worn. Initially recipients were required to have shown:
Provision was also made for the forfeiture of the award in the event that a recipient was later convicted of a criminal offence.
Minor amendments to the warrant were made on 3 October 1916. On 1 October 1930 changes were made to the forfeiture provisions, no longer specifying grounds for forfeiture, but also allowing the medal to be restored again. On 27 December 1933 further amendements to the warrant introduced distinctions as to whether the medal was awarded for gallantry or for distinguished service, by adding an appropriate inscription to the reverse of the medal, and adding a central red stripe to the ribbon for gallantry awards, both types of award adopted the current ribbon design, with a further silver strip in the middle of the ribbon. The award criteria was changed so recipients had:
In 1936, amendments of 25 May gave greater provision for territories to opt to award their own equivalent medals. Further minor amendments were made on 15 December.
.
The most common form of the current award is the Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. The equivalent medal for gallantry, the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry, which could be awarded posthumously, has not been awarded since 1977, since which time the Queen's Gallantry Medal
has also been awarded posthumously. Acts of gallantry in the police service normally attract the George Cross
, George Medal
or Queen's Gallantry Medal.
Over time, many Commonwealth
countries have created their own police medals, replacing the issue of the QPM to police in those countries. For example, in Australia, the equivalent decoration is now the Australian Police Medal
which superseded the QPM in 1986, though the last award to an Australian was in 1989.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
"QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969. It was created on 19 May 1954, when it replaced the King's Police and Fire Services Medal (KPFSM), which itself replaced the King's Police Medal (KPM) in 1940. The KPM was introduced by a Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
of 7 July 1909, initially inspired by the need to recognise the gallantry of the police officers involved in the Tottenham Outrage
Tottenham Outrage
The Tottenham Outrage is the name given to an armed robbery and double murder which took place in Tottenham, North London and Walthamstow, Essex, on 23 January 1909, which was carried out by two anarchists, Paul Helfeld and Jacob Lepidus .The "Outrage" became a cause célèbre in Edwardian London,...
.
King's Police Medal
The original KPM, despite its name, could also be awarded to members of recognised fire brigades. It was originally intended that the medal should be awarded once a year, to no more than 120 recipients, with a maximum of: 40 from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
and Crown Dependencies; 30 from the dominions; and 50 from the Empire of India. More could be awarded in exceptional circumstances. The ribbon was to be "an inch and three eighths in width, [...] dark blue with a narrow silver stripe-on either
side" those who received further awards of the medal were to wear a silver bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
on the ribbon in lieu of a further issue of the medal, or a rosette where the ribbon alone was worn. Initially recipients were required to have shown:
Provision was also made for the forfeiture of the award in the event that a recipient was later convicted of a criminal offence.
Minor amendments to the warrant were made on 3 October 1916. On 1 October 1930 changes were made to the forfeiture provisions, no longer specifying grounds for forfeiture, but also allowing the medal to be restored again. On 27 December 1933 further amendements to the warrant introduced distinctions as to whether the medal was awarded for gallantry or for distinguished service, by adding an appropriate inscription to the reverse of the medal, and adding a central red stripe to the ribbon for gallantry awards, both types of award adopted the current ribbon design, with a further silver strip in the middle of the ribbon. The award criteria was changed so recipients had:
In 1936, amendments of 25 May gave greater provision for territories to opt to award their own equivalent medals. Further minor amendments were made on 15 December.
King's Police and Fire Services Medal
On 6 September 1940 the name was changed to the King's Police and Fire Services Medal to better reflect the eligibility of fire service personnel. There was no longer any limit on the number to be awarded in one year.Queen's Police Medal
In a warrant of 19 May 1954 the current version of the medal, named the Queen's Police Medal was introduced, at the same time a separate medal for the fire service was created, the Queen's Fire Service MedalQueen's Fire Service Medal
The Queen's Fire Service Medal is awarded to members of the fire services in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations for distinguished service or gallantry. It was introduced on 19 May 1954 when it replaced the King's Fire Service Medal...
.
The most common form of the current award is the Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. The equivalent medal for gallantry, the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry, which could be awarded posthumously, has not been awarded since 1977, since which time the Queen's Gallantry Medal
Queen's Gallantry Medal
The Queen's Gallantry Medal is the third level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.It was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, and the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry...
has also been awarded posthumously. Acts of gallantry in the police service normally attract the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
or Queen's Gallantry Medal.
Over time, many Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries have created their own police medals, replacing the issue of the QPM to police in those countries. For example, in Australia, the equivalent decoration is now the Australian Police Medal
Australian Police Medal
The Australian Police Medal is awarded for distinguished service by a member of an Australian police force.The APM was introduced in 1986, and replaced the Imperial Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry and Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service....
which superseded the QPM in 1986, though the last award to an Australian was in 1989.
Description of current medal
- The circular "silver" medal is 36 mm in diameter.
- On the obverse is a profile of The QueenElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. - The reverse depicts a figure holding a sword and shield. The words For Distinguished Police Service or For Gallantry are inscribed around the edge of the reverse side.
- The ribbon's colours consist of three silver stripes and two wide blue stripes (order: silver, blue, silver, blue, silver). For the Gallantry award, a thin red stripe runs through each silver stripe.
See also
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
- Police Long Service and Good Conduct MedalPolice Long Service and Good Conduct MedalThe Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is a decoration for police officers of the United Kingdom. First instituted in 1951, the 36mm medal was initially issued in cupro-nickel but modern strikings are rhodium plated....