Queen's Police Medal

Infobox Military Award
name=Queen's Police Medal


caption=QPM ribbons for Gallantry (left) and Distinguished Service (right)
awarded_by= United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
type= Medal
eligibility= Members of the Police Force
for='acts of exceptional courage and skill at the cost of their lives' or for the 'exhibition of conspicuous devotion to duty'. [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/imperial.cfm#qpm]
status= Currently awarded
description=
clasps=
established=19 May1954
first_award=
last_award=
total=
posthumous=
recipients=
individual=
higher=
same=
lower=
related=Queen's Fire Service Medal


caption2=The Queen's Police Medal (QPM) is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. It was introduced on 19 May1954, when it replaced the King's Police Medal (KPM). Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only officially granted on 20 July 1969.

The most common form of the award is the Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. The equivalent medal for gallantry, the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry, is now rarely awarded. Acts of gallantry in the police service would, since 1977, normally attract the George Cross, George Medal or Queen's Gallantry Medal.

Description

* The circular "silver" medal is 36 mm in diameter.
* On the obverse is a profile of The Queen.
* The reverse depicts a figure holding a sword and shield. The words "For Distinguished Police Service" or "For Gallantry" are inscribed around the edge of the reverse side.
* The ribbon's colours consist of three silver stripes and two wide blue stripes (order: silver, blue, silver, blue, silver). For the Gallantry award, a thin red stripe runs through each silver stripe.

See also

* Queen's Fire Service Medal
* British and Commonwealth orders and decorations

References

* [http://www.medals.org.uk/united-kingdom/united-kingdom069.htm ODM] of the UK
* [http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/police_and_fire.htm Stephen Stratford] medal page