Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth has been awarded the King’s Police Medal (KPM) in His Majesty’s 2025 Birthday Honours.
The prestigious honour, which is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations for gallantry or distinguished service, has been bestowed upon T/CC Blyth in recognition of her work tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) and her unwavering commitment to protect vulnerable people.
T/CC Blyth has been the National Police Chiefs’ Council VAWG Coordinator since 2021, while she is also the national portfolio lead for Violence and Public Protection.
T/CC Blyth said: “I’m delighted, surprised and deeply honoured to receive the King’s Police Medal.
“In particular, I want to thank all the victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual offences and child abuse who have reported what has happened to them to the police and shared with me their experiences. And to acknowledge the many police officers and staff who work tirelessly to turn the tables on the perpetrators behind these crimes. Our colleagues do this on a daily basis and their work is literally life-saving, helping to prevent yet another tragic death.
“This award reflects the importance of public protection and I want to thank everyone across policing, and other sectors, who have worked tirelessly with me to improve the policing response to VAWG.
“Policing has now set up a new National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, recognising the need to bring national consistency to how these horrendous crimes are dealt with by all 43 Forces.
“I’m immensely proud of the focus policing brings to pursuing the perpetrators who harm women and children. Across every force this is a priority.
“Policing stands by the ambition of the Government’s target to reduce VAWG by 50% within a decade. However, to have the same impact as tackling other national threats (like Counter Terrorism and serious and organised crime), this will require significant ongoing investment, focus and acknowledgement that the threat to women online, behind closed doors, and in public spaces, remains unacceptably high. We are still confronting an epidemic of violence against women and girls.
“Above all, I want to pay tribute to all victims and survivors who show such courage in reporting these dreadful offences and for placing their trust in us, the police, to secure justice for them. We must never let them down which is why our response to VAWG must remain a priority for us all.”
