Federation congratulates Bryn Hughes on MBE honour

5 January 2023

West Midlands Police Federation has praised the work of Elizabeth Medal campaigner Bryn Hughes 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 was awarded for his work supporting young people who have lost family members through violent crime.

West Midlands Police Federation chair Rich Cooke said Bryn deserved the recognition.

He said: “We are delighted that Bryn’s work has been honoured in this way. Following Nicola’s tragic death, he set up a charity in her name and sought to help young people whose lives had been torn apart by violent crime. In addition, his energy and dedication have helped keep the Elizabeth Medal campaign at the forefront of the policing agenda and has won widespread support from all sides.

“He has spoken passionately and from first-hand experience about what a posthumous award would mean for the families of fallen officers and has always done so with great dignity.

“West Midlands Police Federation continues to fully support the Elizabeth Medal campaign and hopes approval for such an award is granted in the not too distant future.”

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.