Queen's New Year Honours 2022 - Police and Ambulance Service

The recipients of The Queen’s Police and Ambulance Service medals in Scotland are as follows:

Queen’s Police Medal

• Judith Heaton, Assistant Chief Constable, Police Scotland
• Louise Blakelock, Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland
• Marlene Baillie, Chief Inspector, Police Scotland

Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal

• Patrick O’Meara, Paramedic, Scottish Ambulance Service

QUEEN'S POLICE MEDAL

Judith Heaton, Assistant Chief Constable, Police Scotland

Throughout her 30 years’ service, Assistant Chief Constable Judith Heaton has been a trail blazer for women in policing.

Between 2001 and 2007, Judith served in Cheshire Police as a Detective Inspector and Detective Chief Inspector. She was responsible for investigations into murders and other serious crimes and her efforts to improve investigative standards saw the portion of recorded crimes detected rise from 4% to 25%.

During this period, while studying for a Master’s Degree in policing, Judith created a police women’s network and coordinated a national networking event attended by a thousand women across the UK.

A passionate advocate of coaching, she has coached officers from minority groups, as well as creating a coaching programme for people leaving prison. This provided educational and vocational opportunities and resulted in reduced reoffending rates.

In 2017, as Head of Crime, Judith undertook a force-wide review and improved crime investigation quality, and victim experience. Relied upon as a trusted and unbiased investigator, she has led many sensitive, high profile investigations and critical incidents, including police shootings and deaths in custody.

The following year Judith was appointed Chief of Staff supporting the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable. While in that role she was responsible for digital transformation; testing and implementing new criminal justice and intelligence systems across two police forces.

Judith has been a critical incident Gold Commander for more than five years and is also a Specialist Strategic Firearms Commander. In March 2020, she successfully completed the UK Strategic Command Course with distinction.

In July 2020, Judith joined Police Scotland as an Assistant Chief Constable leading on major crime, public protection and local crime. She has since set up a team to deal with online child abuse, resulting in hundreds of arrests.

Louise Blakelock, Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland

Chief Superintendent Louise Blakelock joined Grampian Police in March 1993, having previously served as a police cadet. She joined the Road Policing Unit in 1997 and later transferred to the Road Safety Department.  

In 2003, Louise was promoted to Sergeant, undertaking various roles including community safety, local policing, and corporate development and governance. In 2008, she was promoted to Inspector, before moving to the National Road Policing Unit in June 2014, where she became Chief Inspector.

Assisting in providing road policing services across Scotland, this role involved leading some 630 officers and 100 police staff. During this time, Louise demonstrated exceptional leadership, resilience and capability.

Appointed Road Policing Area Commander for the north of Scotland in 2015, Louise served as an energetic and enthusiastic leader of 150 officers covering Tayside, north-east Scotland and the Highlands and Islands.

Acutely aware of the importance of effective partnership working with local authorities and Scottish Government agencies such as Road Safety Scotland, Louise’s collaborative leadership was critically important to the establishment of Police Scotland. Her outstanding leadership throughout this period resulted in her promotion to Superintendent within road policing in July 2017.

As Deputy Head of the Road Policing Division, Louise had national responsibility for the delivery of road policing services and the management of all divisional staff. Within this role she led a review of the structure of road policing and, in January 2020, was promoted to Chief Superintendent as Head of the Road Policing Division.

Under her leadership, strong relationships were formed with both local and national partners, which have been key to supporting road policing’s core aims of reducing road casualties and improving road safety.

Alongside her strategic role in the development of road policing, Louise has been instrumental in promoting the welfare and wellbeing of police officers and staff. Of particular note is her mentoring of and support for colleagues who have attended and investigated road traffic collisions resulting in fatalities or serious injury.

Throughout her career, Louise has demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment to policing and, in particular, road policing. Her achievements serve as an inspirational example to officers and staff across the organisation.

Marlene Baillie, Chief Inspector, Police Scotland

Chief Inspector Marlene Baillie has more than 26 years’ service, having joined Strathclyde Police as a Constable working in various urban locations. In 2000, she took a post in Oban, marking the start of her long service to the communities of Argyll and Bute.

Promoted to Sergeant in 2002, Marlene worked across various locations, gaining promotion to Section Inspector in Dunoon in 2006, and thereafter to her current post in Campbeltown in 2009.

As a senior police officer and Local Area Commander in such a rural and remote location, Marlene is very prominent within the local community and is often directly contacted by locals and elected members.

Argyll and Bute covers 2,900 square miles, with 23 inhabited islands. Such geography means that serious incidents are initially managed by Marlene and her team before more specialist support arrives. In such circumstances, strong partnership working is key.

For example, when dealing with missing persons enquiries, Marlene works with partner agencies such as Her Majesty’s Coastguard, Mountain Rescue and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Overseeing these incidents as the lead agency means Marlene is responsible for coordinating staff across all partners to ensure the safe return of individuals.

Marlene is also a wellbeing champion and her enthusiasm for colleagues’ wellbeing is testament to her commitment to officers and staff across the division.

In June 2012, Marlene undertook a six month post as Temporary Superintendent in Greater Glasgow, before returning to her post in Campbeltown, where she continues to provide exemplary service.

QUEEN’S AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL

Patrick O’Meara, Paramedic, Scottish Ambulance Service

Paramedic Patrick O’Meara’s has led a distinguished 39-year career in the Ambulance Service. Over the past two years, this has included excellent leadership of a team which has worked incredibly hard, in very challenging circumstances, to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Patrick has always been an exemplary member of staff who displays the values and standards of NHS Scotland in all his work. He remains a registered paramedic and has undertaken work with the air ambulance service, as well as in specialist operations, operational management and strategic leadership. Over the last two years he has gone above and beyond and delivered significant results in demanding circumstances.

Building the Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow in just three weeks was a huge achievement for the NHS, and Patrick was instrumental in ensuring the Scottish Ambulance Service played their part. This included the initial delivery of Mobile Covid-19 Testing Units and the subsequent expansion in line with the Scottish Government’s Test and Protect Strategy..

More recently he has been closely involved in the delivery of the medical requirements for COP26. Here he displayed excellence in strategic planning, testing, and providing medical support for complex events. He continues to manage, support, and develop staff across a multitude of disciples with care and compassion. His communication skills ensure that he gets the best out of people and situations to achieve results.

Patrick has demonstrated his ability to engage with multiple stakeholders, from patients to government officials. He is currently leading a new initiative for the Scottish Ambulance Service to develop capacity to deliver event medical support safely and effectively, to a very high standard. He is quickly earning the confidence and respect of organisers and national bodies.

On top of his dedication to his profession, Patrick is committed to supporting Poppy Scotland and the Army Cadets. He started as a cadet himself many years ago and now holds the rank of Colonel, working in a senior leadership role.