Police Federation chair Steve Hartshorn will use this week’s annual national conference as a platform to call for a new posthumous award for emergency services workers who die in the line of duty.
The Federation has backed a campaign for recognition for emergency personnel – including police officers - who make the ultimate sacrifice in the execution of their duties.
Steve will call on Home Secretary Priti Patel and the Government to reflect their dedication, commitment and sacrifice with the creation of the Elizabeth Medal.
It’s envisaged the award will be similar to the Elizabeth Cross, which is awarded to the bereaved relatives of members of the British Armed Forces killed in action.
The campaign has been supported by Bryn Hughes, the father of Nicola Hughes who was murdered with her colleague PC Fiona Bone in 2012 during a gun and grenade attack in Greater Manchester.
Steve and Bryn were on the Saturday Live programme on GB News on Saturday with presenters and MPs Esther McVey and Philip Davies to talk about the campaign.
Steve told the programme: “The Federation is supporting the great work that Bryn has started in recognising the brave acts our colleagues in the emergency services.
“In particular for me, our police officer colleagues across the country and getting them some formal recognition when they pay the ultimate sacrifice when they’re protecting the public.
“That will be an ask of me for the Home Secretary and the wider Government to recognise those brave acts they do daily.
“It will be an impassioned plea for those events that sadly lead to the loss of life to be posthumously awarded.
“It’s hopefully what we’re going to be calling an Elizabeth Medal to be presented to the families of those who have tragically lost their lives.”
After losing his daughter, Bryn, a former prison officer, played a leading part in the successful campaign to establish the new dedicated UK Police Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, which commemorates the 5,000 police officers who have died in the line of duty over the years. He also runs the PC Nicola Hughes Memorial Fund to help children whose parents have been murdered.
He told the programme: “There needs to be some formal recognition of the sacrifice they made.
“They went out to work to protect the public, serving the public, which resulted in their loss of life. That needs to be recognised for the families that are left behind.
“For the likes of me and other family members, it’d be a nice feeling to attend certain remembrance services wearing that medal in their memory and their honour.”
