Wiltshire police officers receive royal awards for work during Novichok incident

Two Wiltshire police officers have received Royal awards for their work during the Novichok incidents in Salisbury and Amesbury. 

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills and Superintendent Dave Minty received the Queen's Police Medals at Windsor Castle. The award is given for distinguished police service.

They led the strategic and tactical groups, which involved local and national co-ordination during the event in 2018.

DCC Mills, who was presented with his award by the Duke of Cambridge, said: "It was a huge honour to attend Windsor Castle and be recognised in this way.

"Nobody joins policing with the expectation of receiving honours or awards, you do the job to serve your communities and protect the public - but is, nevertheless, very humbling when our efforts are formally recognised and acknowledged.

Supt Minty collected his award from the Princess Royal and said it represents the "significant team effort" by the police and other emergency services.

He said: "I was then, and I continue to be, incredibly proud of every single person involved in the response to these incidents."

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard congratulated the pair for their recognition.

He said: "For these two officers to be honoured in this way is a fitting tribute to the dedication and outstanding professionalism that they both demonstrated during one of the most testing times in our history.

"I would like to offer my personal thanks to both Paul and Dave, but also speak on behalf of the whole of Wiltshire Police to congratulate them on this tremendous professional achievement."