King's Police Medal for Gallantry

Queen's Police Medal
Queen's Police Medals for Gallantry (left) and Distinguished Service (right)
Awarded by United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations
Type	Medal
Eligibility	Members of the Police Force
Awarded for	"acts of exceptional courage and skill at the cost of their lives, or [exhibiting] conspicuous devotion to duty"
Status	Currently awarded
Post-nominals	QPM
Statistics
Established	7 July 1909 (as King's Police Medal)
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	George Medal (QPM for Gallantry) British Empire Medal (QPM for Service)
Next (lower)	Queen's Fire Service Medal, for Gallantry (QPM for Gallantry) Queen's Fire Service Medal, for Distinguished Service (QPM for Service)
Related	Formerly awarded as King's Police Medal (1909–1940), King's Police and Fire Services Medal (1940–1954)
QPM ribbons for Gallantry (left) and Distinguished Service (right)

The Queen's Police Medal (QPM) is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations, for gallantry or distinguished service. It was created on 19 May 1954, when it replaced the King's Police and Fire Services Medal (KPFSM), which itself replaced the King's Police Medal (KPM) in 1940. The KPM was introduced by a Royal Warrant of 7 July 1909, initially inspired by the need to recognise the gallantry of the police officers involved in the Tottenham Outrage.

The original KPM, despite its name, could also be awarded to members of recognised fire brigades. It was originally intended that the medal should be awarded once a year, to no more than 120 recipients, with a maximum of: 40 from the United Kingdom and Crown dependencies; 30 from the dominions; and 50 from the Indian Empire. More could be awarded in exceptional circumstances. The ribbon was to be "an inch and three-eighths in width, [...] dark blue with a narrow silver stripe-on either side". Those who received further awards of the medal were to wear a silver bar on the ribbon in lieu of a further issue of the medal, or a rosette where the ribbon alone was worn. Initially recipients were required to have shown:

(a) Conspicuous gallantry in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals; the risks incurred to be estimated with due regard to the obligations and duties of the officer concerned.

(b) A specially distinguished record in administrative or detective service.

(c) Success in organizing Police Forces or Fire Brigades or Departments, or in maintaining their organization under special difficulties.

(d) Special services in dealing with serious or widespread outbreaks of crime or public disorder, or of fire.

(e) Valuable political and secret services.

(f) Special services to Royalty and Heads of States.

(g) Prolonged service; but only when distinguished by very exceptional ability and merit.

Provision was also made for the forfeiture of the award in the event that a recipient was later convicted of a criminal offence.

Minor amendments to the warrant were made on 3 October 1916. On 1 October 1930, changes were made to the forfeiture provisions, no longer specifying grounds for forfeiture, but also allowing the medal to be restored again. In the 1932 New Year Honours list, a distinction was made signifying only some of the medals were being awarded for gallantry. On 27 December 1933, the warrant was officially amended to introduce distinctions as to whether the medal was awarded for gallantry or for distinguished service, by adding an appropriate inscription to the reverse of the medal, and adding a central red stripe to the ribbon for gallantry awards. Both types of award adopted the current ribbon design, with a further silver strip in the middle of the ribbon. The award criteria were changed so recipients had: