Two Wiltshire police officers receive medals for Novichok response

Two Wiltshire police officers have received Queen’s Police Medals (QPM) for their work leading the response to the Novichok incidents in Salisbury and Amesbury.

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills and Superintendent Dave Minty both picked up their awards at Windsor Castle in the past week.

DCC Mills led and chaired the Strategic Coordination Group (SCG), which oversaw the overall coordination of 26 different local and national partners to develop the multi-agency partnership response to the incidents in 2018.

Supt Minty led and chaired the Tactical Coordination Group (TCG), which was charged with coordinating the delivery of the tactical plan in response to the incidents.

The QPM is an honour awarded for distinguished police service.

DCC Mills, who was presented with his QPM by the Duke of Cambridge on Tuesday (9th November), said, “It was a huge honour to attend Windsor Castle and be recognised in this way.

“Nobody joins policing with the expectation of receiving honours or awards, you do the job to serve your communities and protect the public – but is, nevertheless, very humbling when our efforts are formally recognised and acknowledged.

“It is important to note that this QPM also reflects and represents the hard work and dedication of every single police officer, member of staff, volunteer, and of course all our partner agencies, who came together during such an unprecedented time”.

Supt Minty collected his award from the Princess Royal last Wednesday (3rd November).

He commented, “I would like to also reiterate the message from DCC Mills, that the work carried out by the police and other agencies in Salisbury and Amesbury was a significant team effort.

“I was then, and I continue to be, incredibly proud of every single person involved in the response to these incidents.

“While this QPM is a personal and professional honour for me, I also believe it to be a testament to everyone at Wiltshire Police”.

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard congratulated the pair for their recognition.

He said, “For these two officers to be honoured in this way is a fitting tribute to the dedication and outstanding professionalism that they both demonstrated during one of the most testing times in our history.

“I would like to offer my personal thanks to both Paul and Dave, but also speak on behalf of the whole of Wiltshire Police to congratulate them on this tremendous professional achievement“.