The Honour Our 999 Heroes campaign has received a major boost, with a proposed bravery medal for emergency service workers injured on duty now set to go before a panel – the stage before it is presented to the King – following a second meeting between campaigners, MPs and policing minister Sarah Jones.
A source said ministers are likely to work through some "niggles" over the summer ready for it to be "recommended" to the Honours Committee next month.
At present no formal award exists for thousands of injured police and fire officers and paramedics. Some are forced to leave their job because of physical and mental trauma. Many have given this newspaper harrowing accounts of leaving jobs they loved only to end up feeling forgotten and abandoned.
Medal moves to honours panel
The announcement that an award will now be discussed by the committee is a hugely positive sign for tireless campaigners such as former police officer Tom Curry, who has been fighting for recognition for his injured colleagues for nearly four years.
Mr Curry said: "I'm buoyed by the meeting and the minister's 100% support and the support of the Daily Express and I am confident this will happen.
"There are thousands of injured former 999 personnel who have no medal or any other recognition to show for their service on days such as Remembrance Day.
"We owe them more than that and the national scandal can be corrected, hopefully soon, with a simple medal. This is the first time this has gone to the Honours Committee.
"They have three choices - they can put it forward for approval for the King, they can ask for further information or they can reject it.
"It is highly unlikely that this will be rejected given that this has been debated in Parliament and that it has had unanimous support."
A motion on an injury in service award was discussed in the House of Commons in November last year. It received huge cross-party support but until now there was no formal word from the government on any progression on the medal becoming a reality.
Families and survivors welcome the news
Deborah Adlam, whose son PC Andrew Harper died on duty in Berkshire in 2019, received the Elizabeth Emblem in 2024 – an award given posthumously to families of deceased emergency service personnel. Her son's case has been in the news due to the possible early release under the government's now-paused scheme of two men convicted of his manslaughter.
She said the prospect of an award being introduced for those injured on duty had given "renewed hope that the end goal is finally in sight".
She added: "I would like to pay tribute to all of the officers this would benefit.
"You cannot understate the effects their policing careers have had on the lives of the officers and their families. They put themselves in harm's way for the protection of others and committed to a career in policing.
"They deserve recognition.
"I have no doubt Andrew would agree and feel strongly that this is an important campaign."
George Cross hero Tony Gledhill, 88, one of only two living recipients of the prestigious bravery award, said: "It's wonderful news, I'm so pleased for the campaigners. They've done a wonderful job. Thank you to the Daily Express for supporting it."
In 1966, PC Gledhill and his partner PC Terry McFall braved a hail of bullets from crooks armed with shotguns and pistols in a car chase through the streets of London.
Pam White, 67, was injured in an IRA bomb attack on Christmas shoppers in Harrods which killed three of her colleagues and three civilians on December 17, 1983. She said: "I have waited 43 years for this. Without the support of the Daily Express we would not have got here.
"It means a lot for this to get where it has. I am very optimistic that it is going to go through."
Kris Aves, 45, paralysed after being hit by the van used in the Westminster Bridge attack in March 2017, said: "Receiving the latest news from the crime and policing minister means so much to me and the many other injured 999 personnel.
"We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel for this deserved medal recognition. Thanks go to Tom Curry for his perseverance and 'won't give up' attitude."
MPs and Home Office respond
Shadow policing minister Matt Vickers said the recommendation was "long overdue" and the award itself was a "no brainer". He said: "How could anyone say no to Tom? When you hear the stories of the sacrifices these incredible emergency services workers have made it's difficult to say no to this.
"You can't say no, it's overdue and something they deserve. Labour need to pull their finger out and get on with it."
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Morrison said the meeting with the policing minister was "really positive".
He added: "The new Prime Minister Andy Burnham is going to want a good news story and what better way than to honour those who put themselves on the line to make sure we are all safe and well?"
The Home Office said: "It is only right that those who are injured in the line of duty are recognised in the appropriate manner."
