PCSOs deserve a medal
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have an active role in keeping their communities safe through active patrols, supporting Police Officers and engaging with residents in community events.
The Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is a decoration awarded as a mark of the Sovereign's appreciation of long and meritorious service, given to members of the Police Forces of the United Kingdom.
However, there currently is no decoration for PCSOs after 20 years of service to their communities.
The London Assembly has today called on the Mayor to lobby the Home Secretary the set up a decoration for PCSOs and to create medal equality between PCSOs and Police Officers.
Gareth Roberts AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“PCSOs are the backbone of neighbourhood policing, keeping our communities safe and supporting frontline officers.
“It’s only right that their long-service commitment is recognised. We urge the Government to back this campaign for a long-overdue medal."
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly notes:
- The Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is a decoration awarded as a mark of the Sovereign's appreciation of long and meritorious service, given to members of the Police Forces of the United Kingdom.
- The Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was instituted under Royal Warrant by King George VI in June 1951 and is awarded after Officers dedicate 20 years of their lives to serving their communities.
- Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have an active role in keeping their communities safe through active patrols, supporting Police Officers and engaging with residents in community events.
- That there currently is no decoration for PCSOs after 20 years of service in their communities.
This Assembly calls on the Mayor to:
- Support the national campaign, started by 2 PCSOs at Leicestershire Police, for service medals to be awarded to Support Officers who dedicate 20 years of their lives to supporting police officers and serving their communities.
- Lobby the Home Secretary the set up a decoration for PCSOs and to create medal equality between PCSOs and Police Officers.
The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- The Motion was agreed unanimously.
- Gareth Roberts AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interview.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251727 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.