In the 2025 New Year Honours list the Chief Constable, Jo Farrell, is named as one of three recipients of the King’s Police Medal.
The citation for Chief Constable Farrell reads: “Chief Constable Joanna Farrell has an exemplary police career spanning more than 33 years across three Forces. For the past six years, she served as Chief Constable in Durham Constabulary and continues to serve as Chief Constable in Police Scotland, demonstrating exceptional leadership and strategic vision, together with personal resilience and commitment to public service. Recognised as a progressive and personable police leader, she places a clear focus on people, prevention and innovation, delivering a more efficient, effective and community centred policing for the public.
“Chief Constable Farrell’s strategic leadership of Police Scotland has been a trailblazer for engaged well-informed decision making ensuring stronger outcomes for communities. She has carried this approach throughout her career, combining vision, collaboration and a clear focus on public benefit.
“As the first female Chief Constable of Police Scotland, she is a role model to others both in what can be achieved but importantly how it can be achieved, through hard work and humility and without compromise on values and people focus, including family. Her approach to empowering and enabling staff goes beyond creating an environment for them to thrive, it is evident daily through her own personal demonstration of visible effective leadership in action.”
As well as the Chief Constable, other members of the emergency services have been recognised. These include Stevie Dolan, Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland, who began his career in West Edinburgh. He has served 32 years in the police force and has been tenacious in community policing and crime disruption. He found a role in investigating sudden deaths and missing persons which helped shape his understanding of compassionate leadership.He went on to train and mentor more than 500 probationary officers. He now commands 1,350 officers in Lanarkshire where he continues to advocate for care-experienced young people and vulnerable communities.
Andrew Freeburn, Assistant Chief Constable, Police Scotland “served 32 years in policing across Northern Ireland and Scotland, rising from joining the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1992 to Assistant Chief Constable within Police Service of Scotland.
“As Assistant Chief Constable, leading Organised Crime, Counter Terrorism, Cyber and Intelligence with Police Scotland he worked tirelessly to build partnerships at the Scottish Crime Campus, driving collaboration across over 30 law enforcement agencies through the Multi-Agency Tasking and Delivery Board.
“As Executive lead for Counter Terrorism, he strengthened key partnerships and embedded a ‘one team’ approach between Police Scotland and CT partners, directly increasing Scotland’s ability to mitigate terrorist threats.
“Assistant Chief Constable Freeburn also served as Senior Responsible Officer for the ‘Policing in a Digital World Programme’, developing Police Scotland’s operational Cyber Strategy.
“Beyond operational duties, Assistant Chief Constable Freeburn’s commitment to ethics and values shaped policing across the United Kingdom. He contributed to Police Scotland’s ethics framework and devoted 10 years lecturing Law at Ulster University Belfast. His community service included serving as Non-Executive Director for the Simon Community homeless charity (2017-2022) and as Trustee for the Police Treatment Centre and Police Children’s charity.”
The King’s Fire Service Medal has been awarded to Alexander Muir, Firefighter, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), and Stuart Stevens, Chief Officer, SFRS.
Chief Officer Stuart Stevens has demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout his career with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), making significant contributions to community safety, operational excellence, and workforce development.
Chief Officer Stevens was instrumental in establishing the SFRS Prevention agenda during the formation of Scotland’s single national fire service, developing a unified approach to community safety through partnership working.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Chief Officer Stevens provided decisive leadership that maintained operational continuity whilst prioritising staff safety. His calm approach ensured vital services continued during the national crisis, reinforcing public trust in the SFRS. He led the SFRS response to Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations, working with the Scottish Government’s Ministerial Working Group to implement necessary reforms and enhance fire safety standards.
A passionate advocate for firefighter safety, Chief Officer Stevens has driven s improvements which have created safer working environments and more effective emergency response capabilities. Appointed Chief Officer in November 2024, his tenure exemplifies integrity, innovation, and unwavering dedication to public service.
The King’s Ambulance Service Medal has been awarded to David Lee Bywater, Lead Consultant Paramedic, Scottish Ambulance Service.
Dave Bywater, SAS’s Lead Consultant Paramedic, has dedicated the prestigious accolade, which acknowledges staff who’ve displayed exceptional devotion to duty, to his late dad Tom and daughter Rachel.
Originally from Aberfeldy, but now living in Dalgety Bay, Dave joined SAS in 1996, starting out as an ambulance care assistant in Pitlochry. He qualified as a paramedic in 2001 before going on to join the Service’s Special Operations Response Team (SORT) in Edinburgh. His career has since spanned roles including Clinical Advisor, Practice Placement Educator and now, Lead Consultant Paramedic.
In addition to his work with SAS, Dave has also been heavily involved with BASICS Scotland, serving as Vice Chair and Chair and a clinical educator for many years. He is also a reservist with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) and is a volunteer instructor with the Advanced Life Support Group in Aberdeen and Manchester.
Dave said: “It’s a tremendous honour and an amazing thing to receive – I am truly honoured. I’d like to dedicate this to Rachel and my dad Tom – they are a huge inspiration to me and both would have been over the moon that I’ve received this award.”
Michael Dickson, SAS Chief Executive said: “I want to give a huge congratulations to Dave who is fully deserving of this honour.
“Dave is a hugely respected member of the Scottish Ambulance Service and his leadership, clinical expertise and commitment to our patients exemplify the very best of our Service. We are incredibly proud to see his work recognised through this award.”
He has also worked Police Scotland to reform the pre-hospital child death process, resulting in a national change in practice, and has had a leading role with the Scottish Cardiac Arrest Symposium and worked with the British Heart Foundation to develop a UK-wide solution for Public Access Defibrillator utilisation.
He said other highlights during his time at SAS include representing SAS at both the Cenotaph in 2022 and the King’s Coronation in 2023 as well as being in command roles at large events such the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, SAS’s Covid 19 response and the COP 26 conference.
He added: “Although I’m lucky enough to be in a leadership role, I still love the times I get to be out on the road and care for patients, whether in a car, ambulance or with SCAA. After all these years, it still amazes me the professionalism of everybody.
“The care and compassion shown to me this year from everyone at the Service has been outstanding. This is an outstanding organisation and as an individual, I feel privileged to have worked in the Service for all these years.”
