9 Awards

1. The Honours conferred in 1997/98 on police officers and support staff once again recognise the widespread commitment to provide the public in Scotland with the very best police service possible.

Queen's Birthday Honours List 1997

W Drummond, Superintendent, Fife Constabulary

MBE

R Greig, Chairman, Whitfield Crime Prevention Panel

MBE

J MacLeod, Skye Mountain Rescue Team

MBE

A S Nicol, Lochaber Mountain Rescue Association

MBE

A G Strachan, Constable, Tayside Police

MBE

J D Welsh, Assistant Chief Constable, Strathclyde Police

QPM

C A Milne, Deputy Commandant, Scottish Police College

QPM

New Year Honours List 1998

R N Dinnie, Head Commissionaire, Strathclyde Police

MBE

J O Sayers, Member and former Chairman, Clydebank Crime Prevention Panel

MBE

G Macdonald, Assistant Chief Constable, Strathclyde Police

QPM

J A Mackay, Assistant Chief Constable, Tayside Police

QPM

V Robison, Deputy Chief Constable, Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary

QPM

Gallantry

2. The Scottish Office Crime Prevention Unit has responsibility for considering nominations for gallantry awards to police officers and members of the public. The intervention of public spirited citizens to prevent criminal acts, or rescue other persons from dangerous situations, can place these individuals in danger themselves. Such unselfish acts of bravery deserve to be publicly acknowledged.

3. The Secretary of State's Commendation was awarded to:

Mr K W Hutton, Mr D Wilkie, Mr R Paterson, for their actions in pursuing and apprehending 2 armed men following a robbery at Cairncross Jewellers Ltd, 18 St John Street, Perth, on Friday 4 October 1996.

Mr M L P J Costello, for his actions in pursuing and apprehending an armed man on 24 March 1997, following a robbery at the Alliance and Leicester Building Society, High Street, Perth.

Other Awards and Recognition

4. There are of course many other acts of assistance rendered to the police by members of the public which go beyond what might reasonably be expected from good citizens. Police officers in the course of their duties are also often required to take actions which go beyond the routine or expected response. I know that Chief Constables formally recognise such actions locally and the Secretary of State annually holds a Heroes Reception at Edinburgh Castle at which individuals, some of them children, are publicly thanked for their assistance.

5. I wish to endorse the public recognition of these Honours and awards and am delighted to mark the substantial contribution made by police officers and the assistance rendered to them by members of the public.