Officers and staff from South Wales Police have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours.
Retiring Deputy Chief Constable Richard Lewis and Police Constable Bharat Narbad have been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM), with Detective Constable Graham Budd receiving an MBE and Debbie Farrar, a Protecting Vulnerable People investigator, a BEM.
Richard Lewis, who marked his last day in the job after 32 years in November, said: “I was totally taken aback when the letter arrived. I am absolutely delighted and feel incredibly lucky to have received it at the end of my career.
“But this is for all the people I have worked with over the years and throughout my policing career. It’s a great honour for me and my family – and I know my father, in particular, will be chuffed.”
PC Baz Narbad, from our BAME recruitment team and the chair of the South Wales Police Black Police Association, said: “It came totally out of the blue – the letter was a massive surprise but I was very proud as well. I love the work I am able to do in the community and for our staff association. I don’t do it for recognition but I am really honoured, and I just hope I can continue to do what I can to make South Wales Police more representative of our communities.”
DC Graham Budd, who has been honoured for services to community policing in Cardiff, said: “I feel this is not so much a recognition of myself as of everyone I’ve worked with.”
Graham, who was stabbed during a drugs raid in 2017, added: “What happened to me could have happened to anyone. We are a team, and this recognition is as much theirs as it is mine.”
Debbie Farrar, an investigator in our Protecting Vulnerable People unit who has been recognised for services to policing, said: “For me, this is recognition of what we do as a team – it’s for everyone involved with vulnerable people, but also including those vulnerable people themselves, whose bravery and courage is inspirational.
“I am only a small part of the bigger team, and this is a reflection of a wider collaborative effort.”
Responding to the New Year Honours announcement, Chief Constable Matt Jukes said: “It’s a huge source of pride to see four of my colleagues from South Wales Police recognised in this year’s New Year Honours list. They have each given long and dedicated service to our communities but more than that, they have each shown tremendous leadership in keeping our communities safe and ensuring our organisation has continued to develop to face today’s challenges.”
Speaking about the individual recipients, Mr Jukes added: “On a personal note, I am delighted that Richard’s contribution to the force and our communities has been recognised. He has a passion for the place and its people, only matched by his enthusiasm for technology. His work has ensured South Wales Police has remained at the cutting-edge of police technology and the new kit in the hands of officers and staff today is testament to the spirit of innovation that he has fostered. This leadership has gone beyond our borders and indeed, beyond the hi-tech with leadership across Wales on our work with young people in schools and communities.
“Bharat, known to everyone as Baz, has been a champion for our diverse communities as Chair of the South Wales Black Police Association and a member of a team dedicated to developing a workforce that is more representative of our communities. He has been an ambassador for the force in all that he’s done and has also ensured that Black and Asian staff and officers are represented and supported throughout their service. Baz is a familiar figure in communities across South Wales and his contribution has been key in the progress we are making to better representing those communities as a force.
“DC Graham Budd has been part of tackling the terrible effects of drugs and organised crime in our communities for many years. As an expert witness and an experienced investigator, he has remained in the thick of that work across his long service. His courage to do this saw him stabbed in a terrible attack whilst undertaking a drugs raid and it is testament to Graham that after recovering, he was back, doing the work he loves. I now wish him the very best for his well-deserved retirement.
“Debbie’s recognition with the British Empire Medal is a reflection of her dedication to keeping the most vulnerable in our communities safe. After long police service, much of it concerned with safeguarding vulnerable people, she focused most recently on keeping safe and returning children who go missing, particularly those who are often absent from places where they are in care. Those children know they can trust Debbie, as do fellow professionals, who I know will join me in our great pride in congratulating her on this recognition.”
