The Chief Constable of Cambs Police was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal today at Buckingham Palace in recognition of 30 years of distinguished service.

Simon Parr has served as Cambridgeshire’s Chief Constable since September 2010, following three years as the Deputy Chief Constable in Hertfordshire.

He has been the driving force behind changes to the way policing in Cambridgeshire is delivered to meet the Government’s budget cuts.

Mr Parr said: “I am enormously proud to receive this award and attend Buckingham Palace with my family.

“Recognition of this kind is not what we work for in policing, which makes it all the more exciting when it comes.

“It is also a great reflection on the Constabulary, and all the selfless work that colleagues do each and every day.

“I would also like to say a huge thank you to my family, who have supported me for so long.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Graham Bright said: “It is a pleasure to work with Simon. His leadership has not only made Cambridgeshire one of the safest places in the country, but also put the Constabulary on the map with its programme of cutting edge information technology.”

Before joining Hertfordshire Constabulary in January 2004, Mr Parr spent 20 years with Sussex Police, during which he was head of the Operations Department and was involved in managing the Lewes floods in 2000 and policing several party conferences in Brighton.