New Year Honours: Recognition for Specials coordinator and PFCC

Specials coordinator Les Hawkins and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours list.

Les Hawkins becomes a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to policing and to the community in Essex.

Roger Hirst has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to policing and community safety.

Les joined Essex Police in 1988, spending his first two years as a Special Constable before joining the regulars in September 1990.

He spent most of his service in response policing with his final role being as Acting Inspector for Southend Local Policing Team. He retired as an officer in September 2017 and started his current role as Specials Supported Policing Coordinator the following month.

Les is the force lead for the Employer Supported Policing (ESP), a Home Office-backed scheme that encourages employers to allow staff who are Special Constables paid time off for Specials duties. He set up the regional ESP working group and represents the eastern region on the national working group where he can influence national decisions and policy.

Les also leads for the Community Special Constable Scheme. This is unique to Essex Police and encourages parish and town councils to effectively ‘sponsor’ Special Constables who will work closely with the council and other groups to take ownership and become a regular, known point of contact in the parish.

Reflecting on his award, Les said:

“I was shocked. It was a total surprise. You have no idea that someone has nominated you, so when the letter came through from the Cabinet Office I was absolutely gobsmacked.

“My family and friends only found out today as you are given the news in strictest confidence, but I’ve been getting lots of congratulations messages.

“The Specials Development Team was created in 2017 and my role was brand new. We didn’t know how successful it would be, but the force had the foresight to value volunteers and create this team. To be allowed to develop the role as I have has been a wonderful experience.”

Roger Hirst was elected for a third term as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in May 2024.

A long-standing member of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioner’s Board and Finance Lead for Police and Crime Commissioner’s nationally, Roger led the successful campaign to secure additional funding for policing and achieved the target of recruiting an additional 905 Essex Police officers in March 2023, making the force the biggest in its 185-year history.

He said: “It’s an enormous privilege to receive this MBE in recognition of the work the PFCC has carried out in collaboration with our partners, to increase community safety, reduce crime and save lives in Essex.

“We have always advocated a collaborative approach to emergency services and public safety, focusing on bringing together police, fire, rescue, health, local authority and other partners to improve outcomes and drive efficiencies.

“Behind our work is a simple idea: safe and secure communities are the bedrock on which success, prosperity and wellbeing are built. That remains our focus - driving down crime, reducing anti-social behaviour, and delivering effective and efficient emergency services - and we will keep working with our partners to make a difference where it matters most.”

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said:

“I would like to offer my congratulations to both the Commissioner and Les Hawkins on their well-deserved honours.

“Les has dedicated his career to serving the people of Essex, first as a police officer and now as a champion of Citizens in Policing and our employer supported programme with the Special Constabulary. His tireless work has strengthened our links with our partners including local businesses and parish councils, and the BEM is fitting recognition for his unwavering commitment.

“The Commissioner’s award is an endorsement of his leadership and an acknowledgment of the support he gives the force for the work we have done to cut crime and ASB across the county. There is no greater advocate for policing in Essex, his enthusiasm for improving the lives of people in the county remains as strong as ever, and our cities, towns and villages are safer places to live and work as a result.”

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