Two officers recognised in King’s Birthday Honours

Former Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney and retired Chief Inspector Nick Elton have been recognised in HM King Charles’ first Birthday Honours List announced this evening (16 June 2023).

Olivia has been awarded the CBE for services to policing, while Nick has been awarded the King’s Policing Medal (KPM) for his outstanding career in digital policing.

FORMER CHIEF CONSTABLE OLIVIA PINKNEY AWARDED CBE

Former chief constable Olivia Pinkney has been recognised in HM The King’s Birthday Honours List, being awarded a CBE for services to policing.

Olivia, who announced in September 2022 that she was leaving policing after 31 years, became Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s first female chief constable when she took up the position in April 2016. She also held national positions as the lead for Local Policing and the Policing of Children and Young People, was Chair of the UK Women Chief Officers’ Network and the national chaplaincy lead for the police service. Prior to leaving her role, Olivia lead the national strategic command course for three months, developing the next generation of aspiring chief officers and wider executives.

Olivia began her career in policing with Avon and Somerset Constabulary, and also served as assistant chief constable for Surrey and Sussex forces. During this time she was the national lead for the police on tackling organised immigration crime, including people trafficking. She then took up the role of assistant inspector of constabulary with HMICFRS, later becoming deputy chief constable in Sussex Police, before taking up her final position in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

In 2016, Olivia was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the New Year Honours list.

Olivia said: “I am extremely honoured to receive this award for services to policing. I am delighted to accept it, and I do so on behalf of the fine profession that I was proud to serve for 31 years. Proud of the service delivered by the most brilliant, compassionate, humble, and capable people who genuinely make a difference every day.

“I have been fortunate to hold so many varied positions throughout my career, which allowed me to witness the depth and breadth of what policing has to offer.

“I strongly believe that a career in policing is one of the most rewarding you can have. The day I was appointed chief constable of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will always be one of the proudest days of my life. I got to witness the brilliance of those I have been lucky enough to serve with, and I also had opportunities to influence and shape policing more widely in the national positions that I held.

“It is a vocation like no other, where even on the darkest days, people step up and bring light. They do the right thing, go the extra mile, stick to their values and put the public first. It is a real team effort, and I feel truly privileged to have been recognised for the part I have played.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, said: “I was pleased to support Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney’s nomination for a national honour. Olivia was the first female chief constable of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and at the time she stood down as our chief, one of the longest serving chief constables in the UK.

“Olivia led our force with distinction, focus and represented policing on the national stage for a number of years.

“Olivia’s commitment to policing has been unwavering with total dedication to public service since she graduated from Cambridge University.

“She has helped bring about improvements in equality and diversity in policing at a national level. I had the privilege to work alongside Olivia in my first two years as Police and Crime Commissioner.

“I am thrilled she has been recognised today for her exemplary service.”

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, Chair of the National Police Chief's Council, said: “Olivia’s honour is very well-deserved, marking her tireless commitment to policing over more than 30 years.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Olivia in both her local and national roles and she has been a great inspiration to me and many others. Even following retirement Olivia continues to support policing, through the development of police leaders and research work. Olivia’s contribution to public service is exemplary and I am delighted it has been recognised in this way.”

FORMER OFFICER AWARDED KING'S POLICING MEDAL

A former Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary officer has been recognised for his outstanding career in digital policing in this year's King's Birthday Honours list.

Former Chief Inspector Nick Elton has received a King's Policing Medal after 29 years of distinguished public service across police forces in Cleveland, Surrey, Wiltshire and Hampshire, as well as the College of Policing.

Nick joined Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in 2017 at the rank of Chief Inspector, leading the force's Digital Intelligence and Investigations team in finding new ways our officers could capitalise on new technologies.

One of the most significant legacies of his career was while serving with the College of Policing where he delivered the Digital Media Investigator role across 48 police forces across the UK as well as the National Crime Agency and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

In Hampshire, Nick also created and hosted the force's Digital Discovery Workshop events. Attended by hundreds of policing professionals, these innovative events featured speakers from international intelligence services and leading industry figures to share tactical advice on digital investigations and raise awareness of cyber enabled crime.

His influence in this area extends beyond policing into wider industry and academia where his knowledge and insight is highly regarded and sought after. He is a Visiting Professor at Birmingham City University, a Chartered Security Professional, a Chartered Manager and a Fellow of the British Computer Society, the Institute of Directors, the Security Institute and the Chartered Management Institute.

Furthermore, he is Vice Chair of the National Police Autism Association, and is a strong and public ambassador for neuro diversity in policing. He was also a Police Federation representative between 2010 and 2017.

Recently retired, Nick has worked tirelessly to keep policing ahead of how technology is being used by criminals. His work in shaping and driving the UK policing response to cyber and digital crime has been pivotal and transformed the national landscape.

Reacting to this honour, Nick said: "I would like to express my deepest gratitude and immense honour upon being nominated for a King's Policing Medal. Words cannot adequately convey the depth of my appreciation for this recognition, it is better than winning the lottery!

"This is a momentous occasion in my life, as it signifies the acknowledgment of my efforts and contributions not only to policing locally within Hampshire and Thames Valley but also nationally. But this is really a collective award, it is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of those who I have worked and served with in the pursuit of common organisational goals. Knowing that our collective endeavours have been recognised. This award is a testament to the effort of those who have stood by me.

"The support and encouragement that I have received whilst with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has been instrumental in my personal and professional growth. I am truly grateful for the opportunities that have presented and for believing in my abilities.

"I would also like to express my appreciation to the distinguished individuals who were involved in the selection process. Their discerning judgment and commitment to recognising outstanding achievements have made this honour all the more meaningful.

"I have served in a number of forces across my career but my time in Hampshire was definitely the most enjoyable. If anyone is thinking of a career in policing I couldn't recommend Hampshire enough as it is such a positive place to work, particularly for neuro diverse people."

Chief Constable Scott Chilton said: “I am delighted that Nick has been honoured in this way for his expertise and leadership in digital policing and cyber security.

“His commitment and passion has meant policing both locally and nationally has a far better understanding of the threats posed by cyber criminals, and we know from our communities that his work with businesses has had a direct impact on raising awareness and crucially preventing victims of these sorts of crimes.

“On behalf of the whole force I would like to congratulate Nick on his well-deserved KPM.”