Former GMP Bury district sergeant awarded in King's first New Year's honours

A former sergeant from Greater Manchester Police's Bury district has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King's first New Year's Honours list.

Inspector Jim Jones, who currently works as part of the Specialist Operations Branch at Manchester Airport and acts as the force’s Tactical Lead for the Armed Forces Covenant, has been given the honour for services to policing and the armed forces. 

He's given 27 years of service to GMP and is well-known throughout the force for his diligence and dedication to policing, but also within the armed force’s community for his exceptional efforts in ensuring military personnel both past and present, as well as their families, are fully supported. His close work with the veterans’ community has seen veterans encouraged to consider jobs within the force and his approach has been followed by many other police forces across the country.

Throughout his illustrious career, Jim has held a passion for supporting vulnerable offenders by putting diversionary activities in place to help steer them away from committing offences and the criminal justice system.

When based as a Sergeant on GMP’s Bury district, Jim successfully introduced a shoplifting scheme which supported vulnerable female offenders. The scheme saw over 100 of the most vulnerable females - many of whom were domestic abuse victims - receive life-changing support, which not only diverted them away from the criminal justice system but helped them escape their abusive circumstances. As a result, it became the subject of a University of Cambridge degree thesis and was reviewed and recommended nationally by both the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reform Trust, as good practice.

In his work as Lead for the Armed Forces Covenant, Jim has introduced a scheme to divert veterans who are in trouble away from the criminal justice system by working alongside Project Nova – a programme delivered by Forces Employment Charity and Walking with the Wounded, which provides care coordination to ex-servicemen and women who have been arrested or are at risk of arrest.

In 2016, Jim established a network of armed forces champions in GMP, who provide peer support to veterans employed by the force and mentor military service leavers through the police selection process.

GMP’s Chief Officer Team recognised the benefits of the network to those from our armed forces community and set about establishing a Supporting Our Armed Forces steering group, which works all-year round to engage with the military community and build lasting relationships.

As a result, in 2020, GMP was one of only five forces across the country to receive a gold award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), which encourages employers to demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community.

Speaking about the honour, Inspector Jim Jones said: “We are indebted to His Majesty’s Armed Forces personnel both past and present; not just to those who serve in conflict zones, but to all those – including family members – who often put their own personal lives on hold, living transient lives to serve King and country to protect the freedoms we take for granted.

“I was brought up in a military household with my father serving for 22-years in the Royal Air Force. Although he now suffers from Parkinson’s disease and dementia, I know that he, along with my mother, will be incredibly proud of me receiving this medal, which is more important to me than anything else.

“I will wear the medal with pride. And finally, to all those who are serving, have served or are family members of those in service, I just want to say thank you.”

Chief Constable Stephen Watson added: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Inspector Jim Jones, who is an outstanding example of dedication, innovation and service to colleagues, armed forces personnel and the public.

“Jim is a worthy recipient of the British Empire Medal as he is renowned for putting the care of victims and those who are most vulnerable at the heart of everything he does. He is a dedicated and professional police officer, as well as a hugely enthusiastic and supportive champion of the armed forces.

“His significant work to support armed forces veterans has been instrumental to cultivating GMP’s reputation of being an exemplar armed forces employer.”

Jim will be presented with his medal by the Lord Lieutenant in the spring and will then attend Buckingham Palace in the summer with his family.