National Police Service Medal

Award

National Police Service Medal

Medal and Ribbon

Type| Service in the Office of Constable
Awarded for| 15 years "ethical and diligent service" on or after 14 February 1975, 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]
Presented by| Commonwealth of Australia
Eligibility| Sworn members of all Australian police forces
Post-nominals| (no post-nominal entitlement)
Clasps| None
Status| Currently Issued
Established| 9 November 2010[1]
First awarded| 19 September 2011
Total| 49,690[2]
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 14 February 1975, 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".[3]

Australian police 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 may receive both the National Police Service Medal and the National Medal.[4]

## Background[edit]

The Australian Government 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.[5] The medal is only awarded once; there are no clasps awarded for additional periods of service.

The National Police Service Medal is not an award to recognise long service. Rather, it acknowledges the ethical and diligent commitment, and the unique contribution to the community, demonstrated by sworn members of Australia’s police forces. In most Australian police forces, long and diligent service has been recognised since May 1956 with the award of the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.[6] Since the introduction of the Australian honours system on 14 February 1975, service has been recognised by award of the National Medal.

It was estimated that over 20,000 former Australian police would be eligible for the award upon its introduction.[7][8][9]

The medal sets an uncommonly high standard for its award and retention.[citation needed] 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 or 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 as a result of the lobbying of various individuals and professional bodies, but principally by the Police Federation of Australia.[10]

## Description[edit]

The National Police Service Medal 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 used to record the recipient’s details. The words: ‘FOR SERVICE AS AN AUSTRALIAN POLICE OFFICER’ in capital letters appear 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, and 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 an 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).[4]

## Order of Wear[edit]

In Australia the position of medals when worn is defined by the Order of Wearing.[11] 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.[12]

## See also[edit]

* Australian Honours System
* Australian Honours Order of Precedence
* National Medal (Australia)

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "National Police Service Medal - Letters Patent and Regulations" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette - Special Issue No. S 31. Commonwealth of Australia. 2 March 2011. ISSN 1032-2345. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
2. ^ Governor-General Annual Report 2022-23 (PDF). Governor General of Australia. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
3. ^ The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP and The Hon Senator Kate Lundy (2 March 2011). "The highest recognition for our dedicated police officers". Joint Press Release. Minister for Home Affairs and Justice. Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
4. ^ a b "National Police Service Medal". It's and Honour. Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 June 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
5. ^ "It's an Honour - Honours - Awards - A-Z of Awards - Australian Active Service Medal". Archived from the original on 1 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
6. ^ "It's an Honour has a new home". Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
7. ^ http://www.pansw.org.au/public/latest-news/national-police-service-medal-eligibility-extended[dead link]
8. ^ "Queen approves police service medal | the Australian". Archived from the original on 12 April 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
9. ^ "Media | Prime Minister of Australia". Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
10. ^ Mark Burgess APM (2 March 2011). "The National Police Service Medal: Just Recognition for Australia's Police" (PDF). Police Federation of Australia Journal. Police Federation of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
11. ^ "Order of Wearing". It's an Honour. Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet. Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
12. ^ "NSPM Fact Sheet" (PDF). It's an Honour. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.

## External links[edit]

* It's an Honour – Prime Minister and Cabinet site
* ADF Honours and Awards – Department of Defence site
* Police Federation of Australia – PFA site

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Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia

(order of wearing)

National orders|

* / Order of Australia

Royal orders|

* Order of the Garter
* Order of the Thistle
* Order of Merit
* Royal Victorian Order
* Order of St John

Gallantry|

* Victoria Cross for Australia (VC)
* Star of Gallantry (SG)
* Medal for Gallantry (MG)
* Commendation for Gallantry

Bravery|

* Cross of Valour (CV)
* Star of Courage (SC)
* Bravery Medal (BM)
* Commendation for Brave Conduct
* Group Bravery Citation

Distinguished service|

* Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
* Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
* Commendation for Distinguished Service

Conspicuous service|

* Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)
* Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)

Nursing service|

* Nursing Service Cross (NSC)

Meritorious service|

* Public Service Medal (PSM)
* Australian Police Medal (APM)
* Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM)
* Ambulance Service Medal (ASM)
* Emergency Services Medal (ESM)
* Australian Corrections Medal (ACM)
* Australian Intelligence Medal (AIM)
* Australian Antarctic Medal (AAM)
* Royal Victorian Medal (RVM)

Campaign medals
(service periods)|

| 1939–1945|

* Australia Service Medal 1939–1945

|

1945–1975|

* Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975
* Australian General Service Medal for Korea (1953–1956)
* Vietnam Medal (1964–1973)
* Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal (1968–1973)
* Australian Service Medal 1945–1975

1975–2012|

* Australian Active Service Medal (1975–present)
* Rhodesia Medal (1979–1980)
* International Force East Timor Medal (1999–2000)
* Afghanistan Medal (2001–2014)
* Iraq Medal (2003–2013)
* Australian Service Medal (1975–present)

2012–present|

* Australian Operational Service Medal – Border Protection (2012–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – GMEO (2014–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Special Operations (2019–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Counter Terrorism/Special Recovery (2020–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Africa (2023–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Civilian (2012–present)

Special service|

* Police Overseas Service Medal
* Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal
* National Emergency Medal
* Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945
* National Police Service Medal
* Australian Sports Medal (2000, 2021–present)

Commemorative

* King Edward VII Coronation Medal (1902)
* King George V Coronation Medal (1911)
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
* King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
* Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953)
* Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977)
* 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal (1999)
* Centenary Medal (2001)
* Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
* Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
* Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022)
* King Charles III Coronation Medal (2023)

Long service|

* Defence Force Service Medal (1982–1998)
* Reserve Force Decoration (1982–1998) (RFD)
* Reserve Force Medal (1982–1998)
* Defence Long Service Medal (1998–)
* National Medal
* Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal
* Service Medal of the Order of St John

Other defence awards|

* Australian Defence Medal
* Champion Shots Medal
* Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal
* / Unit Citation for Gallantry
* / Meritorious Unit Citation

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