ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to all to whom these Presents shall come,
WHEREAS We are mindful of the long and meritorious service rendered by members of Our Prison Service of England and Wales, The Northern Ireland Prison Service, Scottish Prison Service and the prisons on Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man (“Our Prison Services”), or by members of such prior or successor body or bodies as may have been or be in existence from time to time, employed on operational duties.
AND WHEREAS We are desirous of recognising such service; We do by these Presents, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors institute and create a new Medal which shall be governed by the following rules and ordinances.
Firstly: It is ordained that the Medal shall be designated and styled “The Prison Services (Operational Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal” (“the Medal”).
Secondly: It is ordained that the Medal shall be circular in form and in cupro-nickel bearing on the obverse the Crowned Effigy of the Sovereign. On the reverse there shall be a prison doorway with a crowned Royal Cypher and the inscription “For Exemplary Service”.
Thirdly: It is ordained that the Medal shall be worn on the left side attached by means of an ornate scrolled suspension to a ribbon one-and-a-quarter inches in width, which shall be of black with on either side a white stripe on which is super-imposed a narrow black stripe. It is further ordained that in the official list showing the order in which Orders, Decorations and Medals should be worn it shall be placed immediately after the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Medal.
Fourthly: It is ordained that those eligible shall be full-time and part-time members of the Our Prison Services employed in an operational grade who were in service on or after the twenty-ninth day of April two Thousand and eight and who have the necessary Qualifying Service. It is further ordained that part-time service (and operational grades) shall reckon as defined in the regulations hereinafter mentioned.
Fifthly: It is ordained the Qualifying Service required for award of the Medal shall be twenty years’ full-time or part-time operational service, or an aggregate of twenty years’ such full-time and part-time service, in Our Prison Services, such period of service to be completed by or after the twenty-ninth day of April two thousand and eight, or such other period of Qualifying Service as may hereinafter be determined by Our Secretary of State for Justice, Our Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or Our Secretary of State for Scotland, or such other of Our Secretaries of State as may have jurisdiction over Our Prison Services or as the case may be and to be reckoned in accordance with the regulations hereinafter mentioned.
Sixthly: It is ordained that for those previously performing operational duties who are unable to continue those duties as a result of injury received in the course of, or in connection with, their duties in Our Prison Services, will continue to qualify for the Medal, providing they continue to work for one of Our Prison Services and are otherwise eligible.
Seventhly: It is ordained that no person shall be recommended for the Medal unless, having completed the Qualifying Service, it is certified by Our Secretary of State for Justice, Our Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or Our Secretary of State for Scotland, or such other of Our Secretaries of State as may have jurisdiction over Our Prison Services or as the case may be that they are in every way deserving of the award.
Eighthly: It is ordained that the names of all those to whom the Medal is awarded shall be recorded by Our respective Prison Service.
Ninthly: It is ordained that the name, grade and epaulette number (if applicable) of the recipient shall be inscribed on the rim of the Medal.
Tenthly: It is ordained that a Miniature of the Medal, which may be worn on certain occasions by those to whom the Medal is awarded, shall be approximately half the size of the Prison Services (Operational Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and a sealed pattern of the miniature Medal shall be kept in the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.
Eleventhly: It is ordained that delegated powers to make awards under the terms of this Our Warrant shall be vested in Our Secretary of State for Justice, Our Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Our Secretary of State for Scotland, or such other of Our Secretaries of State as may have jurisdiction over Our Prison Services or as the case may be.
Twelfthly: It is ordained that it shall be a condition of the award of the Medal that the grant of any unofficial or local long service or good conduct medals by any of Our Prison Services in respect of operational duties for wear in such Service shall be discontinued, and that any unofficial or local long service or good conduct medals, if already granted, shall cease to be worn by the recipient of Our Prison Services (Operational Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Thirteenthly: It is ordained that it shall be competent for Us upon the recommendation of Our Secretary of State for Justice, Our Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Our Secretary of State for Scotland, or such other of Our Secretaries of State as may have jurisdiction over Our Prison Services or as the case may be, in relation to the Prison Services in their respective jurisdiction, to cancel and annul the grant of the Medal to any person and also to restore a Medal which has been forfeited under such regulations as may, with Our approval, be issued from time to time.
Fourteenthly: It is ordained that the Medal shall be awarded under such regulations as to grant, forfeiture, restoration and other matters in amplification of these Our rules and ordinances as may with Our approval, signified through Our Secretary of State for Justice, Our Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or Our Secretary of State for Scotland, or such other of Our Secretaries of State as may have jurisdiction over Our Prison Services or as the case may be, in relation to the Prison Services in their respective jurisdiction, be issued from time to time.
Lastly: We reserve to Ourself, Our Heirs and Successors, full power of annulling, altering, abrogating, augmenting, interpreting or dispensing with these rules and ordinances, or any part thereof, by a notification under the Royal Sign Manual.
Given at Our Court at Saint James’s the 17th day of December 2010 in the fifty-ninth Year of Our Reign.
By Her Majesty’s Command
Ken Clarke, C.
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice