Army Veteran Now Serving In The Metropolitan Police Receives Campaign Medal

A local police officer from Stamford Hill, Hackney has been awarded a Campaign medal by the British Army for his service in Africa from 2012-2013.

PC James Higgins has been a police officer in the Met for almost four years.

However, for twelve years before this he was a soldier in the military.

He served four years in the Irish Army before transferring to the British Army where he served for eight years.

In 2012, PC Higgins was a Lance Corporal in the 1 Royal Irish Regiment when he travelled to Mali with his regiment to train the Malian soldiers.

A large number of the Malian soldiers were farmers – ordinary people with no military training.

PC Higgins and his regiment were part of a larger group who travelled to Africa as part of the European Union training mission to help Malian armed forces and train them in how to be soldiers – a mission that was the first of its kind.

Upon arrival home one evening last week after a shift, PC Higgins discovered a very special delivery from the British Army.

A very special General Service Medal has been commissioned by the British Army for the Mali operation and PC Higgins is now the proud recipient of this prestigious honour.

PC Higgins said:

“I’ve always wanted to be a police officer as well as a soldier when growing up. From a young age I felt the urge to help those that needed saving. I think my first act as a protector was stepping in front of a fellow school kid who was being bullied by a few older kids.

“I was out numbered but nothing happened. The bullies backed off and never bothered this school kid again. It was then I realised that some people aren’t as scary as they seem but they can prey on the vulnerable. So after school I joined the military.

“The military certainly gave me the ability and the opportunity to help people. I got to travel the world, learn new skills and protect those that needed our help.

“But when the tours ended and another mission wasn’t in sight, I just couldn’t sit still. I needed to be doing more. I noticed an advert or story online saying the Metropolitan Police were recruiting 5000 new officers. I read the job role and spoke with serving police officers through social media.

“I even cornered a local bobby in Shropshire to get an insight to the role of being a Police Officer. I knew then that this was what I wanted to do. This is what I needed to do.

“Being a Police Officer gives me the opportunity to be on the beat almost every day. I get to help someone every single day and that’s just the greatest feeling in the world.

“I am very proud to have received this medal after so many years.

“As a veteran of 12 years military experience I pride myself on being professional and am determined to keep everyone safe.

“Being deployed to Mali as a teacher / instructor to train their soldiers was a nice change from previous fighting missions such as Afghanistan.

“But all in all I truly am, humbled”

If you want to learn more about how you can join the police, please visit www.metpolicecareers.co.uk/newconstable

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