Federation congratulates medal campaigner Bryn Hughes on MBE
5 January 2023
Elizabeth Medal campaigner Bryn Hughes has been congratulated by Gwent Police Federation after he was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours.
Bryn, whose daughter PC Nicola Hughes was murdered in 2012 alongside fellow Greater Manchester Police PC Fiona Bone in a gun and grenade ambush, is the driving force behind the campaign for a posthumous award for officers killed on duty.
The former prison officer said Nicola would be proud of his MBE which he received in recognition of his work supporting young people who have lost family members through violent crime.
Gwent Police Federation chair Matthew Candy said: “The campaign for an Elizabeth Medal is very close to all our hearts so we are very pleased that Bryn Hughes’ work has been rewarded with this honour.
“He speaks very passionately about what such a medal would mean to the families of police officers who are killed while on duty and we will hopefully receive a positive outcome in the not too distant future.
“He is fully deserving of this official recognition and everyone at Gwent Police Federation sends him our warmest congratulations.”
Bryn said the MBE came as a poignant way to mark the 10th anniversary of his daughter’s murder.
He said: “I suppose it's tinged with that bit of sadness as well because the only reason I’ve been nominated and been given the award was because of what happened to Nicola and the work I’ve done since then.
“It marks the 10-year anniversary so it’s quite a poignant way to mark it to be honest.”
Asked what Nicola would think of his award, Bryn said: “I think she would be proud. She would be very proud.”
Supporters of the Elizabeth Medal campaign believe emergency services workers deserve the same recognition as military personnel who are posthumously honoured with the Elizabeth Cross which is presented to relatives of those killed in action.
The Police Federation is calling for top level talks with ministers in a bid to secure approval for the new medal.
