Where can I identify or obtain information about the award of a police medal?

Most police medal enquiries concern two distinct types of medals: awards for gallantry and medals awarded at the coronation of British monarchs.

The King’s Police Medal was created in 1909 by Edward VII, for issue to members of a recognised police force or fire department throughout the British Empire for acts of gallantry or long and dedicated service. In 1954 the King’s Police Medal was replaced by the Queen’s Police Medal and the Queen’s Fire Service Medal.

Medals have been awarded to some classes of people in public service (including certain grades of police personnel) on the occasion of coronations and jubilees of monarchs since 1887.

The most comprehensive public collection of police medals in Scotland is in the Glasgow Police Museum. <http://www.policemuseum.org.uk/> [accessed 25 May 2024]

Alternatively you could ask the Police Insignia Collectors Association of Great Britain. <http://www.pica.co.uk/> [accessed 25 May 2024]

If the medal was awarded for an act of bravery, a good source for what occurred is a local newspaper. For information about which newspapers were current at the place and time in question consult Alice Mackenzie, NEWSPLAN: report of the NEWSPLAN project in Scotland (British Library, 1994); or J P S Ferguson, Directory of Scottish Newspapers (National Library of Scotland, 1984). You can also search the British Newspapers Archive <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/> [accessed 25 May 2024] for a fee or subscription.  For details about the service record of a policeman who received an award, go to the FAQ How can I find the service record of an individual police officer?