| National Police Service Medal | |
|---|---|
Medal and Ribbon |
|
| Awarded by Commonwealth of Australia | |
| Type | Service in the Office of Constable |
| Eligibility | Sworn members of all Australian police forces |
| Awarded for | 15 years ‘ethical and diligent service’ on or after 30 October 2008, or for a lesser period if that service was terminated due to the member’s death or to an impairment related to the discharge of their duties as a Constable of Police[1] |
| Status | Currently Issued |
| Clasps | None |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 9 November 2010[1] |
| First awarded | 19 September 2011 |
| Total awarded | Estimate of Initial Issue is 24,580 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945 |
| Next (lower) | Polar Medal |
The National Police Service Medal (NPSM) is a special service award within the Australian honours system to provide "recognition for the unique contribution and significant commitment of those persons who have given ethical and diligent service as a sworn member of an Australian police service".[1]
The NPSM is awarded for "15 years ‘ethical and diligent service’ on or after 30 October 2008, or for a lesser period if that service was terminated due to the member’s death or to an impairment related to the discharge of their duties as a Constable of Police".[2]
Australian police will continue to receive the National Medal to recognise their long service. Thus at the completion of 15 years ‘ethical and diligent service’ a police officer will receive both the National Police Service Medal and the National Medal in a similar way to members of the Australian Defence Force receive the Australian Defence Medal after 4 years service and a long service medal at 15 years.[3]
There is currently a proposal to seek an extension of the award to include Australian police who were eligible to have been awarded a State-based police service medal for diligent and ethical service over at least a 15 year period. This proposal will be considered after the intial issue of the Australian Police Service Medal under the current conditions and is expected to receive the support of most State and Territory Police Ministers, however, the proposal requires the support of the Federal Home Affairs and Justice Ministers. Retrospectively awarding such a medal to retired or former Australian police follows a similar precedent where the Australian Defence Medal was approved by the Queen, and then retrospectively awarded to all serving and former ADF personnel post-Second World War who met the criteria.<Citation Needed>
Contents |
The Australian Government had previously announced that Her Majesty had given in-principle approval on Thursday 30 October 2008 for the introduction of a new award in the Australian honours and award system to recognise the special contribution made to the Australian community by police and thus it is from this date that the NPSM takes effect. The medal is only awarded once and there are no clasps awarded for additional periods of service.
The National Police Service Medal is not an award to recognise long service but rather acknowledges the ethical and diligent commitment and the unique contribution to the community demonstrated by sworn members of Australia’s police forces. Long and diligent service in an Australian police force has been recognised with the award of the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, from May 1956 in most forces, and with the introduction of the Australian honours and awards on 14 February 1975 by the National Medal.
The NPSM medal will be awarded to all sworn members of Australia’s police forces upon completion of 15 years ethical and diligent service on or after 30 October 2008, or for a lesser period if that service was terminated due to the member’s death or to an impairment related to the discharge of their duties as a Constable of Police. On current estimates there are some 24,580 Australian police who are currently eligible for the award of the NPSM upon its introduction.
The medal also sets an uncommonly high standard for its award and retention. Although a police officer may qualify for the award and be presented with same, should their service be later found to be unethical or not diligent, in an act either before of after the NPSM was awarded to them, then the award may be cancelled at any time on the advice of their Commissioner of Police.
The award came about chiefly as a result of the lobbing of various individuals and professional bodies, but principally by the Police Federation of Australia.[4]
The National Police Service Medal conforms to the current Australian standard for similar awards in that it is 38 millimetres in diameter and 3.5 millimetres in depth. It is finished in cupro nickel with the St Edward’s Crown located on the suspender bar.
The obverse (front) of the medal features the Federation Star representing the Commonwealth of Australia. The Federation Star is located inside a circular chequered band, known as the Sillitoe Tartan, which is an internationally recognised symbol of Police. The chequered band is unbroken and surrounds the star. This design signifies the unity and cooperation between each of the individual state, federal and territory police forces, which thereby join together as a shield to protect the entire Commonwealth.
The reverse (back) of the medal has two sprays of golden wattle, (Acacia pycnantha Australia’s national floral emblem), located immediately below a horizontal panel 25 millimetres across and 8 millimetres high. The panel is centrally located and upon which the recipient’s details are recorded. There is then featured the words: ‘FOR SERVICE AS AN AUSTRALIAN POLICE OFFICER’ in capital letters around the inside of the outer rim.
The medal ribbon draws inspiration from police awards under both the Imperial and Australian systems including the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the Australian Police Medal, but principally from the King’s/Queen’s Police Medal for Gallantry. The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and has a central yellow gold stripe 5 millimetres wide flanked by navy blue stripes 5.5 millimetres wide flanked by white stripes 3.5 millimetres wide flanked by crimson red stripes 1 millimetre wide flanked by white stripes 3.5 millimetres wide. The blue and gold are Australia's heraldic colours defining this as a distinctively Australian award, while the blue and white are colours traditionally associated with police and police awards. The thin red stripes represent the ever-present hazards experienced in service as an Australian police officer.
The medal device of the National Police Service Medal has been designed by Inspector Rick Steinborn of the New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) and the ribbon was developed by Detective Senior Constable James Cheshire of the Australian Federal Police (AFP).[3]
In Australia the position of medals when worn is governed by the Order of Wearing.[5] The NPSM appears immediately after the Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945, before all long service awards. This is in recognition that the medal is not a long service award, and is made only to sworn police officers who have provided ethical and diligent service for the entirety of their police career.[6]