Richmond Council Backs Medals for Police Community Officers

5 December 2025

Richmond Council has voted to support a national campaign for service medals to be awarded to Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) who have dedicated 20 years to supporting police officers and serving their communities.

The motion, proposed by Council Leader Councillor Gareth Roberts at the council meeting on Tuesday, calls for the Leader to write to the Home Secretary endorsing the creation of a decoration for PCSOs, thereby creating medal equality between PCSOs and Police Officers. The motion received cross-party support.

Currently, police officers qualify for the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal after twenty years of service. PCSOs, who make an enormous contribution to communities across Richmond, do not qualify for this medal, and no equivalent decoration exists for PCSOs.

Councillor Roberts highlighted the valuable contributions of PCSOs, noting that they are the backbone, the lifebloods, the beating hearts of their local policing teams. He expressed disappointment that PCSOs do not receive the same formal recognition as police officers for their long service.

Councillor Roberts cited the examples of Maz Reagan from Hampton and Bill Smith from Whitton, both of whom were awarded the British Empire Medal earlier in the year. He noted that PCSOs' work often extends beyond crime detection and policing, such as Maz Reagan's instrumental role in creating the MTV Youth Club in Hampton, which has positively impacted the lives of many young people.

Councillor Buckland seconded the motion, emphasising the dangers PCSOs face on the streets and the importance of recognising their service with a bit of coloured ribbon .

Councillor Dane added that PCSOs are the face of the Met and are vital to the community, checking on people and ensuring the community is safe.

Councillor Palash also voiced his support, stating that PCSOs serve as a bridge between the community and the police, tackling antisocial behaviour and low-level crime, and reducing the fear of crime.

Councils Involved

Richmond upon Thames

Meetings Involved

Richmond upon Thames Council on 2 December 2025

People Involved

Councillor Piers Allen Chair of the Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Services Committee and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board Liberal Democrat Party West Twickenham

Councillor Richard Baker Liberal Democrat Party Teddington

Councillor Nancy Baldwin Vice-chair of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee (Spokesperson for Communities, Equalities & the Voluntary Sector) Liberal Democrat Party North Richmond

Richard Bennett Chair of Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee Green Party South Twickenham

Councillor Carey Bishop Liberal Democrat Party Hampton North

Alice Bridges-Westcott Liberal Democrat Party Kew

Robin Brown Liberal Democrat Party Hampton Wick and South Teddington

Councillor Michael Butlin Armed Forces Champion Liberal Democrat Party South Twickenham

Councillor Julia Cambridge Chair of Education and Children's Services Committee Liberal Democrat Party East Sheen

Councillor Jonathan Cardy Chair of the Planning Committee Liberal Democrat Party Fulwell and Hampton Hill

Councillor James Chard Vice-Chair Transport & Air Quality Committee. Liberal Democrat Party Twickenham Riverside

Councillor John Coombs Vice-chair of the Planning Committee, Spokesperson for Arts Liberal Democrat Party Heathfield

Ian Craigie Vice-Chair of the Joint Pensions Committee Liberal Democrat Party Kew

Niki Crookdake Green Party Mortlake and Barnes Common

Councillor Sam Dalton Liberal Democrat Party Hampton

Councillor Margaret Dane Disability Champion Liberal Democrat Party East Sheen

Councillor Jeremy Davis Liberal Democrat Party Hampton North

Councillor Alexander Ehmann Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee Liberal Democrat Party St Margarets and North Twickenham

Councillor Charlie Engel Vice-chair, Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee Liberal Democrat Party Teddington

Petra Fleming Liberal Democrat Party Hampton Wick and South Teddington

Andrée Frieze Leader of the Opposition Green Party Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside

Councillor Penelope Frost Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrat Party Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside

Councillor Elizabeth Gant Liberal Democrat Party Hampton North

Councillor Phil Giesler Business and Growth Lead Member Liberal Democrat Party Teddington

Councillor Andy Hale Liberal Democrat Party Barnes

Councillor Matthew Hull Liberal Democrat Party Fulwell and Hampton Hill

Councillor Jo Humphreys Liberal Democrat Party Whitton

Councillor Alan Juriansz Vice-Chair, Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee and Lead Member for Sport Liberal Democrat Party West Twickenham

Ben Khosa Liberal Democrat Party St Margarets and North Twickenham

Councillor Rhi Lee Liberal Democrat Party South Twickenham

Councillor Katie Mansfield Richmond Town Centre Project Lead Member and White Ribbon Champion Liberal Democrat Party St Margarets and North Twickenham

Zoe McLeod Liberal Democrat Party East Sheen

Councillor Anton McNulty-Howard Liberal Democrat Party Mortlake and Barnes Common

Councillor Jim Millard Deputy Leader and Finance and Resources Lead Member Liberal Democrat Party Hampton Wick and South Teddington

Marjory Millum Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee Liberal Democrat Party Barnes

Councillor Julia Neden-Watts Deputy Leader and Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Services Committee Liberal Democrat Party Twickenham Riverside

Suzette Nicholson Liberal Democrat Party Hampton

Laura O'Brien Liberal Democrat Party West Twickenham

Stephen O'Shea Liberal Democrat Party Twickenham Riverside

Rob O`Carroll Liberal Democrat Party Whitton

Tony Paterson Liberal Democrat Party Mortlake and Barnes Common

Councillor Lesley Pollesche Liberal Democrat Party Heathfield

Councillor Richard Pyne Liberal Democrat Party North Richmond

Gareth Richards Cycling Champion Liberal Democrat Party Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside

Councillor Gareth Roberts Leader of the Council Liberal Democrat Party Hampton

Councillor Fiona Sacks Sanctuary Champion Liberal Democrat Party Barnes

Councillor Kuldev Sehra Liberal Democrat Party Whitton

Councillor Chris Varley Lead Member for Housing and Vice-Chair Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Committee Liberal Democrat Party South Richmond

Councillor Paulina Vassileva Tenants’ Champion Liberal Democrat Party South Richmond

Councillor Clare Vollum Deputy Mayor and Dementia Champion Liberal Democrat Party Kew

Chas Warlow Deputy Leader of the Opposition Green Party South Richmond

Councillor Richard Warren Chair of Policy and Performance Review Board Liberal Democrat Party North Richmond

Councillor Michael Wilson Liberal Democrat Party Heathfield

Caroline Wren Green Party Fulwell and Hampton Hill

Topics

Richmond Council Council Leader Councillor Gareth Roberts Home Secretary Police Community Support Officer Maz Reagan Bill Smith MTV Youth Club Met