National Police Service Medal
Encyclopedia
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".
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".
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.
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
.
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).
. 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.
Australian Honours System
-History:The Commonwealth of Australia, until 1975, used the Imperial or British honours system. Only a handful of peerages were created for Australians, some in recognition of public services rendered in Britain rather than Australia. Some hereditary peers and baronets whose titles derive from...
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".
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".
Australian police will continue to receive the National Medal
National Medal (Australia)
The National Medal is an Australian award given for long service by operational members of specified eligible organisations. It was introduced in 1975, as an original component of the new Australian honours system, and replaced a range of medals available to military and civilian uniformed...
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
National Medal (Australia)
The National Medal is an Australian award given for long service by operational members of specified eligible organisations. It was introduced in 1975, as an original component of the new Australian honours system, and replaced a range of medals available to military and civilian uniformed...
in a similar way to members of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
receive the Australian Defence Medal
Australian Defence Medal
The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service...
after 4 years service and a long service medal at 15 years.
Background
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
Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
The Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is a decoration for police officers of the United Kingdom. First instituted in 1951, the 36mm medal was initially issued in cupro-nickel but modern strikings are rhodium plated....
, from May 1956 in most forces, and with the introduction of the Australian honours and awards on 14 February 1975 by the National Medal
National Medal (Australia)
The National Medal is an Australian award given for long service by operational members of specified eligible organisations. It was introduced in 1975, as an original component of the new Australian honours system, and replaced a range of medals available to military and civilian uniformed...
.
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
Police Federation of Australia
The Police Federation of Australia is a peak union body that represents the interests of Australian police officers.It was formerly registered under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 on 1 January 1998...
.
Description
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
Sillitoe Tartan
The Sillitoe Tartan is the name given to the distinctive black and white chequered pattern which was originally associated with the police in Scotland, but which later spread to Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of the United Kingdom, as well as to some other places such as Chicago...
, 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
Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
The Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is a decoration for police officers of the United Kingdom. First instituted in 1951, the 36mm medal was initially issued in cupro-nickel but modern strikings are rhodium plated....
, the Australian Police Medal
Australian Police Medal
The Australian Police Medal is awarded for distinguished service by a member of an Australian police force.The APM was introduced in 1986, and replaced the Imperial Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry and Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service....
, 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
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
(AFP).
Order of Wear
In Australia the position of medals when worn is governed by the Order of WearingAustralian Honours Order of Precedence
- Order of wear :Order of precedence for the wearing of decorations and awards within the Australian Honours System.Articles marked with * are awards of the British Empire/United Kingdom and are now considered foreign....
. The NPSM appears immediately after the Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945
Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945
The Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945 is awarded to civilians in Australia during World War II who served in arduous circumstances in support of the war effort as part of organisations with military-like arrangements and conditions of service...
, 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.
See also
- Australian Honours SystemAustralian Honours System-History:The Commonwealth of Australia, until 1975, used the Imperial or British honours system. Only a handful of peerages were created for Australians, some in recognition of public services rendered in Britain rather than Australia. Some hereditary peers and baronets whose titles derive from...
- Australian Honours Order of PrecedenceAustralian Honours Order of Precedence- Order of wear :Order of precedence for the wearing of decorations and awards within the Australian Honours System.Articles marked with * are awards of the British Empire/United Kingdom and are now considered foreign....
- National Medal (Australia)National Medal (Australia)The National Medal is an Australian award given for long service by operational members of specified eligible organisations. It was introduced in 1975, as an original component of the new Australian honours system, and replaced a range of medals available to military and civilian uniformed...
External links
- It's an Honour – Prime Minister and Cabinet site
- ADF Honours and Awards – Department of Defence site
- Police Federation of Australia – PFA site