Colonial Police Medal

Colonial Police Medal

Ribbon bar of CPM for Meritorious Service

Ribbon bar of CPM for Gallantry
Awarded by British Empire
Type Medal
Eligibility police officers in British Overseas Territories, Crown Colonies, and British Dependent Territories
Awarded for gallantry or distinguished service
Status CPM for Meritorious Service currently awarded
CPM for Gallantry replaced by Queen's Gallantry Medal
Post-nominals CPM
Statistics
First awarded 1938
Posthumous
awards
Yes
Precedence
Next (higher) Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal for Meritorious Service

The Colonial Police Medal (CPM) is a medal awarded for gallantry or distinguished service to police officers in British Overseas Territories and formerly in Crown Colonies and British Dependent Territories. Officers from these areas can also be awarded the Queen's Police Medal, which is considered to be a higher award. The CPM was first awarded in 1938.

The most common form of the current award is the Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service. The equivalent medal for gallantry, the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry, which could be awarded posthumously, has not been awarded since 1974 and has been effectively replaced by the Queen's Gallantry Medal, which has been awarded posthumously since 1977. Queen Elizabeth II made the last presentations to two recipients in 1975 while she was in Hong Kong.