PCs join DCC Benson in gaining Queen’s Police Medal

SIX Police Constables – and Essex DCC Derek Benson – have been awarded Queen’s Police Medals in the Birthday Honours.

PCs Karen MacDonald, Keith Openshaw, [of Avon and Somerset] Robert Bowman, [of West Yorkshire] John Keen, Robert Brown [of the Met] and Gaynor Grout [of Surrey Police] have all been awarded the QPM. Over recent years, this is an unusually high proportion of constables gaining the award.

Chief Constable Jon Murphy, from Merseyside Police, was Knighted in the highest honour for the police service.

Other gongs include an MBE for Ch Supt Robert Atkin, of the Met, for his services to the Care of Police Survivors charity.

Mr Benson, who joined Essex Police in 2006 following a career with the Metropolitan Police, said: “It’s an honour to receive this award. I have been lucky enough to work with so many fantastic colleagues both here in Essex and in the Met. It has been a privilege to work for two such great forces. To receive the QPM for doing the job I love is just the icing on the cake.”

Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said: “This award is fantastic news and I would like to say a huge congratulations to Derek. He truly is dedicated to serving the people of Essex and it’s great to see his hard work recognised.

“Derek has been a huge support to me since I became Chief Constable in May last year and he is also a huge support to officers and police staff. He spends a great deal of his spare time raising funds for charities that are close to our officers’ hearts, recently completing the New York marathon for one of his causes. I am sure his family is equally delighted”.