Welsh Government endorses Medals for Heroes campaign

3 October 2023

Nicky Ryan says she is “delighted” that the Police Federation’s Medals for Heroes campaign has won the official backing of the Welsh Government.

As Welsh Lead for the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), Nicky has strongly supported the campaign, which seeks – alongside the Police Superintendents’ Association and the Prison Officers’ Association – to honour fallen officers by posthumously awarding them an Elizabeth Medal, similar to what happens in the British Armed Forces.

In September, Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford held an official meeting with Bryn Hughes MBE, whose daughter PC Nicola Hughes and her colleague PC Fiona Bone were murdered a decade ago. Bryn is a leading light of the Medals for Heroes campaign.

Mr Drakeford pledged his support and has now gone a step further by throwing the weight of his government behind the campaign.

The Welsh Government - based here at the The Senedd - has thrown
its weight behind the Elizabeth Medal campiagn.

Nicky said: “This is a fantastic step forward for our campaign, which simply seeks to provide grieving families with recognition that the service of their loved one is honoured and valued by society.

“To have the support of the First Minister and now the Welsh Government, along with cross-party backing in Westminster, shows the momentum we are building. I hope we can convince the Home Office to agree to our request.”

The First Minister said this week: “I wish to record the Welsh Government’s support and endorsement for [the] Medals for Heroes campaign which will recognise the sacrifice made by emergency workers including ambulance staff, police officers and members of the fire and rescue services.”

Mr Drakeford’s announcement came after he gave a reading at National Police Memorial Day in Cardiff on 24 September.

Bryn Hughes MBE added: “To hear that the Welsh Government is officially backing the Medals for Heroes campaign tops off what has been a momentous couple of weeks for us, in terms of progress.

“The pace has really picked up and the finish line is looking closer than it ever has done before. It's now time for the English Government to follow suit. 

“I'm extremely hopeful that one day soon, we will finally be able to give fallen officers, our heroes, the recognition they deserve.”

The announcement from Mr Drakeford comes days after Ruth Jones, the MP for Newport West voiced her support for the campaign in Parliament when she asked Chris Philp, Minister of Policing to ‘do the right thing and acknowledge those who gave their lives to keep us safe?’ 

When asked about the campaign on BBC Breakfast, Mr Philp said it is something he is ‘pushing for’ and he is hoping an announcement will be made ‘in the near future’.

Speaking about his attendance at this year’s National Police Memorial Day, Mr Philp said: “I think their sacrifice is something we should always remember and be grateful for. And I’m hoping we can say something tangible on that point in the very near future.”

READ MORE: Fallen colleagues remembered at National Police Memorial Day.