The King’s New Year Honours 2024 – Police, Fire and Ambulance

King’s Police Medal

Carol McGuire, Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland

Faroque Hussain, Chief Superintendent (previously Temporary Assistant Chief Constable), Police Scotland

Stephanie Rose, Police Constable, Police Scotland

King’s Fire Service Medal

Iain Morris, Acting Director of Asset Management, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

David Gibson, Watch Commander, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

King’s Ambulance Service Medal

Alistair MacDonald, Ambulance Care Assistant, Scottish Ambulance Service

KING’S POLICE MEDAL

Carol McGuire, Chief Superintendent

Chief Superintendent Carol McGuire rose through the ranks to become one of Scotland’s most experienced football match commanders, and the first woman to take charge of delivering the tactical policing plan for an Old Firm football fixture.

After joining Strathclyde Police in 1995, she won a place on an Accelerated Promotion Scheme and was made Sergeant in 2004, Inspector in 2007 and became Strathclyde’s Chief Inspector and Head of the Licensing Department in 2010. This was followed by a secondment to the Football Coordination Unit Scotland (FOCUS) where she developed the first National Strategy for the Policing of Football in Scotland. It was at this time she also qualified as a match-event commander, going on to take charge of cup finals, international fixtures at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow, and the 2014 Commonwealth Games. 

Chief Superintendent McGuire – who retired in October – wrote the first Gender Equality Scheme for Strathclyde Police and delivered tactical, operational, and strategic policing responses to a range of large scale and high-profile events during a 25-year career. She was involved in the response to the Clutha tragedy in Glasgow just over 10 years ago and also oversaw the introduction of remotely piloted aircraft systems to provide enhanced air support to divisions. She also led on a national project to introduce and procure new lighter and more flexible body armour for officers across the country. In February 2021 Chief Supt McGuire was promoted to Divisional Commander for Dumfries and Galloway – where she is originally from – providing key strategic leadership to the region during the Covid-19 lockdown period.

Faroque Hussain, Chief Superintendent (previously Temporary Assistant Chief Constable)

Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain is the first ethnic minority police officer to progress through the ranks from Constable to the post of Chief Superintendent. The tactical firearms commander won praise for his adept handling of the response to Operation Unicorn – where he was responsible for all firearms officers involved in the large-scale policing operation put in place following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

Following the 7/7 bombings which claimed the lives of 56 people in London in 2005, Chief Superintendent Hussain travelled to London to volunteer as part of a British Transport Police reassurance operation in the wake of the incident and has since fronted a new Police Scotland programme to encourage more recruits from black and minority ethnic backgrounds to join the service. In a wide-ranging contribution to Scottish policing, he has been chief investigator, the head of analysis, performance and demand and was seconded to the elite National Crime Agency where he worked in counterterrorism.

The officer – whose uniform hangs in Glasgow’s Colourful Heritage Museum – joined the service as Constable in 1999. He was promoted to Chief Superintendent serving as Ayrshire’s Divisional Commander and, among many achievements, established the UK Law Enforcement Digital & Data Academy within the Scottish Police College while attached to the National Crime Agency.

Stephanie Rose, Police Constable

Police Constable Stephanie Rose joined the service in 1997 and has become a key advocate for fairness, equality and respect during a distinguished career which has positively impacted the lives of countless individuals in the communities she serves. She chose to learn sign language in her own time to support deaf communities and works with interpreters and deaf women who have experienced gender-based violence, to help improve the support they receive.

She developed a national Keep Safe initiative which was rolled out across Scotland following a successful pilot, which provides safe spaces for disabled, vulnerable, and elderly people if they feel confused, scared, or intimidated, or have been the victim of a crime.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when restrictions were introduced to help protect public health and safety, PC Rose also developed guidance to help fellow police officers interact with people with autism or learning disabilities. She is also a hate crime co-ordinator, overseeing the training portfolio for the national Equality and Diversity unit which includes the Hate Crime Advisor training course.

KING’S FIRE SERVICE MEDAL

Iain Morris, Acting Director of Asset Management

Mr Morris joined Strathclyde Fire Brigade in 2002, becoming Head of Asset Management for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in 2013 when the unified service was formed. In his current role he is responsible for the administration of more than 1,600 vehicles, thousands of items of equipment and over 600 buildings. During the Covid-19 outbreak, Mr Morris and his team led from the front, continuing to keep the fleet workshops open throughout the pandemic, to ensure public safety. He also proved instrumental in a £750,000 project to ‘green the fleet’ – bringing electrical appliances to the frontline as part of a wider public service commitment to Scotland’s drive to net zero.

Away from the vehicle workshops, he is heavily involved with the Veterans and Reservists Group, campaigning to enhance veterans’ benefits and winning gold standard recognition from the Ministry of Defence. An Honorary Vice President of the Scottish Fire Brigades Heritage Trust, he has been heavily involved in the work to establish a Fire Museum and Heritage Centre in Greenock and has served almost eight years as a Trustee of the SFRS Family Support Trust (FST).

David Gibson, Watch Commander

Watch Commander David Gibson’s career spans 44 years working as a retained firefighter with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) protecting Scotland’s communities. Until 2021, he also had a full-time career within the NHS as a mental health nurse, juggling the demands of the two busy roles on a daily basis with good humour and steadfast dedication.

The Watch Commander – who joined the Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service in 1979 – has helped many colleagues, partners, and members of the public through both roles. In April 2020, when a fellow crew member and family friend passed away, he called upon his expertise to support the crew and took time to support the grieving family and counsel crew members. He most recently provided vital support to firefighters impacted by the loss of a colleague following an incident in January 2023.

Watch Commander Gibson also played a pivotal role in the successful integration of the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) to Penicuik Community Fire Station, where he is based.  He was applauded for how he took time to work with and welcome paramedics to the station with a positive and professional attitude, continuing to add to the already positive relationship between the two frontline public services.

KING’S AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL

Alistair MacDonald, Ambulance Care Assistant

Ambulance Care Assistant Alistair MacDonald joined the Scottish Ambulance Service 13 years ago and from the outset has sought out additional responsibilities – becoming a leading figure in the bariatric training field. In addition to being a key driver of staff training, he also liaises with NHS and Highland Council colleagues with assessments to ensure patients are safe and secure in their homes.

Dedicated to keeping people safe, he oversaw a campaign of defibrillator repairs in the north of Scotland and during the Covid-19 pandemic was responsible for the roll-out of power hoods.  Described as a “true asset to the Scottish Ambulance Service” in his award nomination, Mr MacDonald is also described as a respected, caring, compassionate and motivated member of staff who strives to always do what’s best for the patient – regularly going “the extra mile” without an awareness that he is doing so.

Background

Nominations are made by Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Ambulance Service. The Scottish Government facilitates a panel to consider and agree which nominations are advanced.