We feel so overwhelmed to be receiving the King’s Police Medal in the New Year Honours
Members of Northumbria Police have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours for their significant contribution to policing.
Chief Superintendent Sam Rennison – who is now set to enjoy her retirement following 30 years’ service with the Force – and Superintendent Andy Huddleston have both received the King’s Police Medal.
Police Constable Jason Sweeney has been named Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM).
Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine said: “It is wonderful that our colleagues have received such a high honour and recognition for their services to policing and the wider community.
“This recognition reflects not only their outstanding professionalism and dedication, but also the positive impact they have made on our communities over many years. Their service embodies the very best of policing and we are delighted to celebrate their achievements.
Chief Supt Rennison joined Northumbria Police in December 1995 and worked across a range of departments before finishing her policing career as area commander for Northumberland.
She led on more than 350 firearms incidents in her role as a Tactical and Strategic Firearms Commander – more than anyone else in the Force – while also acting as a mentor and a powerful advocate for equality.
Chief Supt Rennison said: “I feel so overwhelmed to be receiving the King’s Police Medal.
“I have been able to do a job I have loved for 30 years and hopefully have made a positive difference to those people we serve and those I have worked alongside.
“I have been so very fortunate to have worked with some amazing people, both within Northumbria Police as well as the many organisations that we work alongside, and these people have played a key role in any successes achieved.
“The challenges experienced in policing today are very different to those experienced when I first joined, but the people who make their careers in policing don’t do it for routine, we do it to make a difference alongside others with that same vision and because we care.
“I feel incredibly proud of this recognition.”
Supt Huddleston now leads the National Rural Crime Unit, merging his love for farming and rural communities with his policing career.
He has secured £1.6 million of external funding to support operations over the next three years, while fostering a greater collaborative approach between farmers and policy makers, and training more than 700 officers to identify thieves targeting machinery in rural areas.
Supt Huddleston said: "It was a great surprise and privilege to receive an honour from HM King Charles III. I am very humbled and grateful to those that put me forward and supported the nomination.
"It is deeply satisfying that the work of our team to tackle the difficulties of not just serious organised crime groups but also businesses that put profit before victims of crime, has been acknowledged in this way.
"I have been very fortunate throughout my service to have worked with some outstanding people in Policing, Mountain Rescue, Academia and the Farming and Construction industries, this award is as much about these people as it is an individual."
PC Sweeney was nominated for the BEM by partners in response to his outstanding work during his 15 years working in the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) in Hebburn, South Tyneside.
He previously spent six years working in response in the same community and now works in the Force’s Safeguarding department.
PC Sweeney said: “This has come as a massive shock to be honest.
“Hebburn has got such a great community, there’s a lot of pride in the area and everyone clubs together to support one another.
“It was not just me – it is because of that great sense of pride that the initiatives we supported during my time in NPT proved to be a success.
“They help to build bridges within the community and encourage children to see beyond the uniform.”