Federation congratulates Bryn Hughes on MBE

5 January 2023

Elizabeth Medal campaigner Bryn Hughes has been congratulated by Nottinghamshire 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.

Nottinghamshire Police Federation chair Simon Riley said Bryn fully deserved to be honoured for his charity work.

“The murder of Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone shocked the nation,” says Simon, “But, despite the tragic circumstances of their death, Bryn set up the PC Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund to try to make a positive change to the lives of young people whose lives have been torn apart by violent crime.

“We admire Bryn for his work for the charity but also for his part in the campaign for an Elizabeth Medal. He has managed to keep the focus on what it would mean for the families of officers killed on duty.

“We continue to support his campaign in 2023 and hopefully he will soon be able to display his daughter’s Elizabeth Medal alongside his own richly-deserved MBE.”

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.