Officers and staff celebrate long-service at special awards

Many officers and police staff have recently celebrated their long-service at a special ceremony.

A total of 34 members of Staffordshire Police were recognised at the long-service awards which took place at the County Buildings in Stafford on Thursday (23 January).

The awards acknowledged officers and staff’s 20-year contribution to the organisation and were presented by the Sir Ian Dudson KCVO CBE, Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, and Chief Constable Chris Noble. 

The ceremony was also an opportunity for recipients to share some of the most memorable moments in their careers. 

Among the officers who were recognised at the ceremony were:

⦁ Detective Constable Lorraine Butler

⦁ Sergeant Shawn Chadwick

⦁ Detective Constable Helen Davies

⦁ Chief Inspector Laura Davies

⦁ Sergeant Robert Gilligan

⦁ Police Constable Benjamin Greensides

⦁ Inspector Elizabeth Hewitt

⦁ Sergeant Shaun Hewitt

⦁ Sergeant Timothy Rees

⦁ Sergeant Kevin Royce.

 

While the police staff who also received awards included:

⦁ Victoria Beech

⦁ Diana Farrington

⦁ Danielle Hassall

⦁ Andrea Sant

The citations heard at the ceremony revealed how officers’ proudest moments included:

⦁ Serving in the British Virgin Islands to assist in the recovery efforts following Hurricane Irma in 2017

⦁ Achieving a 14-year sentence for two offenders responsible for a complex robbery investigation in 2021

⦁ Becoming an overseas spotter for the England team and working with German policing colleagues in 2021

⦁ Representing the force at the late Queen’s funeral in London in 2022

⦁ Recovering £57,000 for an elderly couple who had been victims of a fraud in 2024.

Staff recalled their most memorable achievements during their long-service included: supporting the family of a woman who died throughout an investigation and court proceedings relating to the death; helping to create a new operating model for the force; supporting an investigation into series of cash-in-transit robberies and working as part of a team to help save a number of people who were trapped in an air-tight HGV on the M6.

Speaking during the ceremony, Chief Constable Chris Noble, said: “The officers and staff who received their medals and awards should feel immensely proud to receive such recognition for their valuable service to the communities of Staffordshire. 

"It was an honour as the Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, together with the Lord-Lieutenant Ian Dudson, to present these awards and to thank you for the valuable contribution you have made in keeping Staffordshire safe.”

The Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was first created in 1951 by King George VI. In order to receive the medals, the Chief Constable makes recommendations to the Home Secretary. The awards mark the Sovereign’s appreciation of recipients’ long service. While in 1996, Staffordshire Police’s then Chief Constable, John Gifford, introduced a long service award for police staff who have attained 20 years’ service, to recognise their good character and contribution to the force. 

To find out more about careers with Staffordshire Police, visit: Careers | Staffordshire Police