Elizabeth Emblem to recognise fallen officers
11 March 2024
A new award has been launched to recognise the sacrifice of fallen police officers, firefighters and other public service workers.
The Elizabeth Emblem has been conferred by the King and the families of officers who have lost their lives on duty can now apply for the award.
Steve Butler, chair of West Mercia Police Federation, has welcomed the new award and says it is incredibly important that those who die serving their communities are recognised in this way.
“This new posthumous award will, I hope, show the families of our fallen colleagues that their loved ones are not forgotten and that their sacrifice is recognised,” says Steve.
“I am also pleased the emblem is being named after Queen Elizabeth II too as she really was the epitome of public service.”
The Elizabeth Emblem will feature a rosemary wreath, traditionally symbolising remembrance, surrounding the Tudor Crown. It will also carry the name of the individual it commemorates. The emblem will be able to be worn by next of kin alongside any other medals or awards and will bear the words ‘For A Life Given In Service’.
The next of kin of fallen officers can apply for the emblem via gov.uk. Nominations will be reviewed by the George Cross Committee and recommendations then made to His Majesty The King via the Prime Minister. Recipients of The Elizabeth Emblem will receive their award from a senior representative such as a Chief Constable, chief fire officer or a Lord Lieutenant.
National Federation deputy chair Tiff Lynch with Bryn Hughes.
The Medals for Heroes campaign was launched two years ago by the Police Federation of England and Wales alongside Bryn Hughes, the father of Greater Manchester PC Nicola Hughes who was ambushed and killed along with her colleague PC Fiona Bone in 2012.
Bryn commented: “Nicola and Fiona went to work that day wearing the Crown and they lost their lives while responding to what they thought was a call for help from a member of the public.
“To receive this news that their sacrifice is to be formally recognised by the Crown and State is overwhelming. I meet with many other families of fallen officers and I’m sure many of those, too, will be thankful for this formal recognition.”
The Federation National Board member and Medals for Heroes lead John Partington said: “We’ve waited for this announcement for a number of years. We launched the Medals for Heroes campaign two years ago and this itself was built upon campaigning that we worked on two years before that so I’m delighted by the news the work we have done has helped towards the emblem’s introduction.”
He added: “I’d especially like to thank all of those who have contributed to our call for formal State recognition. Many colleagues have worked with us on this and I’d like to especially thank the other board members and branch chairs who have added their local backing on behalf of the membership.”
Chris Philp, the policing minister, has also welcomed the new award: “We owe so much to our public servants who make sacrifices every day to keep us safe. The Elizabeth Emblem will recognise those who tragically lost their lives in public service and rightly enshrine them in our country’s history so that their sacrifices are never forgotten.”
