Surrey Police Officer Recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Published on: 15 Jun, 2013
Updated on: 17 Jun, 2013

PC John Hockley QPM

A Surrey Police officer has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list announced today (Saturday, June 14).

Police Constable John Hockley, who is based in Cranleigh, has been awarded a Queen’s Police Medal for his services to policing in a career spanning 33 years with the Force.

He has spent the vast majority of that time as a community officer and his dedication to the role has ensured he has been a popular and respected figure with the residents he has served.

PC Hockley is widely renowned in the county for the way he acts with wisdom, compassion and determination to ensure all sections of the local community are treated fairly.

His work with the Gypsy and Traveller communities to ensure their needs are represented has been recognised across the country along with his tireless efforts to promote mutual respect within local neighbourhoods.

PC Hockley is also the Force’s Rural Communities Officer and has led work on many crime prevention and self-support schemes designed specifically for farm and land owners. He was highly active in establishing a Rural Crime Steering Group and through his efforts a ‘Country Watch’ scheme has grown and now has over 1,600 members.

In 2005 he became the Police Review National Community Police Officer of the Year and more recently in 2009 became the recipient of the Local Criminal Justice Board Award for “outstanding contributions to engaging local communities”. Only yesterday he was recognised with a Country Crime Fighters Award by the National Farmers Union.

PC Hockley said of receiving the QPM: “To receive this honour for doing something that I absolutely love is fantastic. My role is fun and exciting and I have had incredible support from the Force throughout my service that has allowed me to do to my job to the best of my ability.

“It always helps when you have good people around you and we have a number of officers who work with me on rural community matters and their hard work has contributed to the success of schemes like Country Watch.

“I was very humbled to receive the news – it is quite overwhelming and I don’t think it has sunk in yet.”

Chief Constable Lynne Owens said: “John has made an outstanding contribution to the Force for 33 years and represents community policing at its very best.

“He has led the way not only in Surrey but also across the country for his pioneering work with the Gypsy and Travelling community. He has also championed the cause of rural communities across the county and has changed the lives of so many of the residents of Surrey for the better.

“I am delighted John has received this honour – it is hard to think of anyone more deserving of such an accolade.”

Share This Post