November 18, 2009
Beds Police Community Cohesion Officer Awarded QPM
A community cohesion officer for Bedfordshire Police was last week awarded the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) in recognition of his ‘distinguished service’.Police Sergeant Peter Rawkins, aged 44, who was born and still lives in the Leighton Buzzard area, currently works at Luton Police Station as part of the division’s community cohesion team.
Peter met Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace to receive the honour on Friday (Nov 13). It has previously been announced that he was being awarded the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) in the Birthday Honours in June.
Peter joined the force in 1981 as a police cadet and began his career as a police constable in Bedford before transferring to Luton to become the local beat officer for the Bury Park area. During his career he has spent five years in CID before being promoted to sergeant in 1996. He has worked in the community cohesion team for the last six years.
Peter’s work as a community liaison officer requires him to advise on both specific and day to day operations. During the last few years there have been several incidents in Luton that have caused community tension, which have required him to act as point of contact for minority groups who live there.
Peter regularly represents the force at functions across the town – often as guest of honour – and is always available, whether on or off duty, to those communities who value his commitment to their needs
Commenting on the award, Sergeant Rawkins said: "Attending Buckingham Palace and receiving my award from the Queen was a fabulous experience. I am passionate about working with local communities so to have my work recognised in this way makes me feel very honoured. However, I would like to pay tribute to my colleagues, as well as the groups and individuals who regularly work with us from our communities, who help make the community cohesion team as successful as it is."
The Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police, Mrs Gillian Parker, said: “I am very proud of the work Peter does for communities in Luton. His work has made a tremendous contribution to policing in Bedfordshire. To have a member of Bedfordshire Police recognised in this way is a very positive reflection on the force.”
