Salute for officer’s landmark work on mental health

A GMP officer has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for transforming the force’s approach to mental health.

Pc Adele Owen receives the royal accolade in New Year’s Honours list for her distinguished service.

A serving officer for almost 20 years, Pc Owen is the tactical mental health lead for the force, transforming the way police officers in Greater Manchester respond to people with mental ill health needs.

She has been instrumental in the force’s new approach to supporting colleagues struggling with mental health issues.

Pc Owen developed policing’s first mental health peer support network two years ago which later led to the development of GMP’s wellbeing strategy.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted to receive this honour. It’s a huge surprise and I’m very grateful to those who nominated me.

“I feel very proud to represent GMP in my current role and have been privileged to work with many dedicated colleagues during my 20 years with the force.”

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins added: “Adele’s leadership in a challenging but important area of our work is exemplary, and her use of evidence based practice to develop the ways that we support members of the community and our colleagues helps us now and in the future.”