Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal

The Home Office has now issued guidance in relation to eligibility criteria of police officers to receive the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. The relevant section is quoted as follows:

Police officers

All officers in paid service on Monday 6 February 2012, have completed five full calendar years' service, and were properly attested on or prior to Wednesday 7 February 2007 are eligible. The total of five years' qualifying service may be aggregated, but unpaid or broken service will not count. There is, however, no limit on the amount of unpaid or broken service provided that the correct overall total of five years' aggregated service is fully accounted for. In calculating the length of service, no deductions or pro-rata arrangements will apply. Therefore, officers who work or have worked reduced hours will be considered as though they have worked the full hours. In addition, the following qualifying criteria will apply:

- Police officers serving on secondment outside the UK will qualify for the medal provided they fulfil all other eligibility criteria. Former police officers who are now training personnel in overseas forces will not qualify for the medal

- Police officers on secondment to HMIC, NPIA, SOCA, NCA, the Home Office and other government departments will also qualify for the medal. Parent forces will be responsible for ensuring that their officers are included in their orders for medals.

- Police officers subject to formal disciplinary procedures on 6 February 2012, which could result in dismissal or requirement to resign, will have their eligibility determined once the outcome of those procedures is known. If the disciplinary action results in dismissal or requirement to resign, and no appeal against that outcome is upheld, the officer will not receive the medal. In all other outcomes, the officer's eligibility will be determined in accordance with the normal criteria.

Police officers on unpaid service on 6 February 2012 will be eligible for the medal but the periods of unpaid service will not count towards the five years' qualifying criteria.