17 MAY 2004
Dear Jack
I am writing to you in your capacity as chairman of the Ministerial Group on Iraq to ask for
your support in ensuring that the service of UK police officers working in Iraq, and that of
other UK civilians operating in support of government policy there, is recognised with the
award of a medal.
My officials believed that UK police officers seconded to Iraq might be eligible for the Iraq
Campaign Medal, and indicated as much to Paul Kernaghan, ACPO's International Affairs
portfolio holder. However, the Cabinet Office's Ceremonial Secretariat has now advised
them that it is a military medal only and the police will not be eligible.
While I could accept the Ceremonial Secretariat's stance if the medal was to be awarded
solely to members of the Armed Forces, I find that this is not to be the case; for example the
criteria for eligibility for the Iraq Campaign Medal include "civilian members of any such other
organisations as may hereafter be determined who served directly with the Armed Forces in
support of Operation TELIC". The Ceremonial Secretariat contends that the UK civilian
police seconded to Iraq cannot be included in this category as they cannot be said to be
working in support of the UK military operation (Op TELIC). They say this is because civilian
policing of a foreign country is not the responsibility of UK Armed Forces. Our officers are
not, however, carrying out the policing of iraq as such, but are engaged in a variety of
advisory and training roles in an effort to reform the Iraqi Police Service - a vital part of our
efforts to Iraqise and build security capability in Iraq. This, like the work of all the FCO and
other deparimental secondees in iraq, is directly related to the restoration of stability
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the issue of the officers' morale, we would certainly lose ACPO's goodwill. It could also lead
to unfavourable publicity. It would be very difficult to defend their not getting a medal,
particularly in the light of the recent suicide bombing incidents at the Az Zubayr Regional
Police Training Academy near Basra, where a number of UK officers are deployed.
I know that you are aware of this situation and have commented to your officials that you
would support the award of a medal to police officers. I hope therefore that you and
colleagues will agree that there is indeed a case for awarding one to all UK civilians
operating in support of UK government policy in Iraq. May I request you therefore to ask the
Prime Minister to intercede with the Cabinet Office, either to:
(i) agree to extend the eligibility criteria for the Iraq Campaign Medal to include all
civilians representing HMG in Iraq or seconded by HMG to the CPA in support of
government policy in Iraq; or
(üi) if that is not possible or acceptable, agree to the creation of a separate Iraq (non-
military) medal for such civilians:
I should be very grateful for any help you can provide to resolve this difficult situation. It
would be a great shame not to honour those who have made an excellent contribution to the
reconstruction of Iraq.
1 am copying this letter to members of the Ministerial Group.
Best wishes,
DAVID BLUNKETT
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