After the Malta Police Force was set up in July 1814 some of its members were recognised for actions of merit during specific situations; but they were not awarded medals.
Qualifications included galantry in saving life and property- Eddie Attard
Until 1890, constables with good conduct were awarded a Good Conduct Badge which they wore while on duty. But this award was abolished after a recommendation by a committee appointed in 1889 to inquire into the organisation of the police, because it was deemed detrimental to the prestige of the corps, as those not wearing this badge enjoyed less public esteem. After the badge’s abolition a merit pay was introduced.
In 1896, officers who gave distinguished personal service to the Royal Family became eligible to receive the Royal Victorian Medal. The first officer given this award was the police head, Clement Laprimaudaye.
In July 1909 the King’s Police Medal was instituted by Edward VII and the first list of recipients was published in January 1910. On July 2, 1910, at Marlborough House, King George V received a number of police and fire brigade officers from all over the UK, who were selected to receive the decoration.
The number of awards was limited to 40 a year for the UK, but in addition, 30 more were issued for colonial service and another 50 for Indian service. The qualifications included conspicuous gallantry in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals; a distinguished record in administration or detective service; special services in dealing with serious or widespread outbreaks of crime, public disorder, or fire; political and secret services; special services to royalty and heads of state; and prolonged service when distinguished by very exceptional ability and merit.
Medals awarded for gallantry were suspended by a blue ribbon with white and red stripes while those awarded for distinguished service had a blue and ribbon with white stripes.
In 1921 the Secretary of State for the Colonies approved the regulations for granting the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and on November 1, 1921, they were published in the Malta Government Gazette:
1. The Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is a reward for “long service with irreproachable character and conduct” in the Malta Police Force. The commissioner must, therefore, take care to recommend only such non-commissioned officers and constables who are in every way worthy of this distinction, and who fulfil the conditions prescribed hereinafter as requisite for an ‘exemplary character’.
Even when a non-commissioned officer or constable is eligible both in these respects, and by length of service (18 years), regard will be had to his conduct and character throughout his career, and to the number and nature of the offences recorded in his defaulter sheet, irrespectively of the punishments which may have been awarded. The period of 18 years may be reckoned to commence at any period within two years from the date of joining.
2. (a) No other service except actual service as an attested policeman in the Malta Police will be reckoned as qualifying service for the award of this medal. Former naval, military or civil service will not count.
(b) Officers of the Malta Police of the rank of sub-inspector or higher rank will not be eligible for the award of this medal unless they completed 18 years’ service as a constable or non-commissioned officer before being appointed sub-inspector.
(c) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of these regulations the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal will not be awarded to men who have already left the force.
(d) Should a member of the Malta Police be discharged and subsequently rejoin, his former period of service may be reckoned as qualifying service providing the break in his service did not exceed six calendar months.
3. Officers will bring to the notice of the commissioner any men who fulfil the conditions required, but they are to explain to the men that the mere fact of having fulfilled the conditions gives no claim to the medal.
The only police officer who received the George Medal was PC Carmel Camilleri- Eddie Attard
4. Recommendations for the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal will be submitted to the Governor in all cases by the Commissioner accompanied by certified copies of (a) the defaulter sheet for the whole of the non-commissioned officer’s or constable’s service, (b) the record of service, and (c) if he has been convicted by the civil power, a certified copy of the conviction.
5. The medal, if granted, will be delivered to the members of the force at a review order parade.
6. An ‘exemplary’ character reference will only be given to a constable who has served for six years or longer, and who has either had no entry in his defaulter sheet, or who having served not less than 12 years, has been clear of the defaulter sheet for the last 10 years. Admonitions will not count as an entry, except in cases of drunkenness.
Although a man may fulfil the above conditions, he will not be granted an ‘exemplary’ character unless the Commissioner considers him deserving thereof.
According to the Government Gazette of March 17, 1922, the following were the first members of the force awarded this medal:
Inspector G. Briffa; Police Sergeants 15 P. Buhagiar; 18 V. Apap; 5 B. Camilleri; 14 G. Casha; 22 C. Muscat; 2 P. Zammit; 64 C. Mangion; 385 E. Debono; 69 A. Sacco; 10 L. Rapa; 17 P. Vella; 31 F. Buttigieg; 401 L. Galea; 145 C. Sammut; 130 P. Zammit; 310 P. Theuma; 395 M. Zammit. Police Constables 377 S. Borg; 175 G. Gatt; 351 S. Borg; 250 G. Camilleri; 389 G. Bugeja; 82 S. Cassar; 138 A. Aquilina; 397 A. Vella; 365 V. Camilleri; 189 G. Saliba; 160 G.M. Gauci; 267 C. Mifsud; 91 G. Cilia; 119 L. Mifsud; 331 G. Mallia; 83 D. Cordina; 215 G.B. Vella; 296 F. Calleja; 152 G. Agius; 313 C. Gauci; 135 G. Muscat; 151 F. Tabone; 198 A. Said; 372 G. Atanasio; 341 G. Attard; 343 F. Gatt; 142 C. Cordina; 150 S. Farrugia; 143 M. Farrugia; 318 G. Vella; 261 G. Sammut; 237 C. Abdilla.
In 1935 the Long Service Medal was replaced by the Colonial Police and Fire Brigades Long Service Medal and the regulations published were the following:
1. The Colonial Police and Fire Brigades Long Service Medal will be granted as a reward for long service and good conduct to constables and subordinate officers below the rank of sub-inspector of the Malta Police Force who, on or after March 23, 1934, shall have completed 18 years’ continuous service as hereinafter defined. The medal supersedes the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal hitherto issued to members of the Malta Police Force under the 1921 regulations, but the latter medal may still be granted in cases where the necessary qualifying service was completed before March 23, 1934.
2. For the purpose of these regulations, service shall only be reckoned as qualifying service provided that the person recommended for the grant of the medal is in possession of an exemplary character.
A subordinate officer or constable who has been clear of the defaulter sheet for the last 10 years of his service may be deemed to be of exemplary character. Admonitions will not count as an entry except in cases of drunkenness. Although a member of the force may fulfil the above conditions, he will not be granted as exemplary character unless the Commissioner of Police considers him deserving thereof.
3. (a) Qualifying service in the Civil Police Forces of other colonies or territories under His Majesty’s protection may be allowed to reckon towards the period of qualifying service provided that the total period of such service amounts to not less than 18 years; provided, however, that where service has been rendered in more than one such territory as aforesaid an interval not exceeding 12 months between any two periods of service shall not be regarded as breaking the continuity of such service; provided also that a break of service not exceeding six calendar months in any one such territory shall not be regarded as breaking the continuity of service.
(b) Service in military police forces shall not be regarded as qualifying service.
4. Recommendations for the award of the medal shall be submitted by the officer in command of the police force to the Governor or Officer Administering the Government. Such recommendations shall be accompanied by certified copies of (a) the defaulter sheet for the whole of each non-commissioned officer’s or constable’s service, (b) the record of service and (c) if he has been convicted by the civil power, a certified copy of the conviction. The medal will be awarded on the authority of the Governor or Officer Administering the Government and a notification of such award shall be published in the Government Gazette.
5. In the event of a recipient losing his medal, another medal may be issued to him provided he defrays the cost of the new medal unless it is decided to relieve him of this liability.
6. (a) A recipient of the medal who is convicted of a criminal offence or is dismissed or removed from the Police Force for misconduct shall forfeit the medal unless the Governor shall otherwise direct.
(b) A medal so forfeited may be restored to the recipient by the Governor at his discretion.
(c) A notice of forfeiture or restoration shall in every case be published in the Government Gazette.
On September 24, 1940, King George VI instituted the George Medal for those who performed acts of bravery during the war.
The only police officer who received this medal was Police Constable 347 Carmel Camilleri. On the night of November 3, 1940, two Wellington bombers crashed moments after taking off from Luqa. The first crashed on open ground at Tal-Ħandaq while the other fell on some houses in the outskirts of Qormi, killing a married couple, Mr and Mrs Agius.
Part of the burnt-out aircraft remained suspended from the steel girders of one of the houses, while burning parts of the plane fell into a quarry from the bottom of which rescue workers heard moaning. Two airmen were dead near the wreckage, while a third, though badly injured, managed to move towards the side of the shaft. Efforts to haul him up failed as he was too weak to maintain a grip on the rope.
Disregarding the risk of exploding bombs, PC Camilleri volunteered to be lowered into the blazing quarry and succeeded in tying the rope around the airman, Sergeant A.T. Smith, who was then hauled to safety. PC Camilleri was awarded the George Medal on February 28, 1941.
After World War II nearly all members of the police force were awarded the Defence Medal, the Africa Star and the 1939-45 War Medal. Some members also received the British Empire Medal.
In the following years some senior officers became members of the Victorian Order (MVO), or received the British Empire Medal (BEM) as well as Members and Officers of the Order of the British Empire (MBE and OBE). Moreover, in June 1953, four members of the Malta Mounted Police were awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Medal after they escorted the Maltese Prime Minister, Dr Giorgio Borg Olivier, in the procession to and from Westminster Abbey in a horse-drawn coach during the Queen’s coronation ceremony.