TWO Wiltshire police officers say it is an "honour" to be awarded Queen's Police Medals (QPM), for their work leading the response to the Novichok incidents in Salisbury and Amesbury three years ago.

An accolade for distinguished police service, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills and Superintendent Dave Minty both picked up their awards at Windsor Castle earlier this month.

These QPMs highlight the work achieved by police when former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia were poisoned by the nerve agent in March, 2018.

DCC Mills led and chaired the strategic coordination group, which oversaw the coordination of 26 different local and national partners to develop the multi-agency partnership response to the attacks.

Supt Minty led and chaired the tactical coordination group, which was charged with coordinating the delivery of the tactical plan in response to the incidents.

DCC Mills, who was presented with his QPM by the Duke of Cambridge on Tuesday, November 9, 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.

"It is important to note that this QPM also reflects and represents the hard work and dedication of every single police officer, member of staff, volunteer, and of course all our partner agencies, who came together during such an unprecedented time."

Supt Minty collected his award from the Princess Royal on November 3.

He said: "I would like to also reiterate the message from DCC Mills, that the work carried out by the police and other agencies in Salisbury and Amesbury was a significant team effort.

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

"While this QPM is a personal and professional honour for me, I also believe it to be a testament to everyone at Wiltshire Police."

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard congratulated the pair for their recognition, praising their "dedication and outstanding professionalism".

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."

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date, as well as signing up for one of our newsletters.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.