South African Police decorations

An overview of South African police decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.

South African Police

The South African Police was established in 1913 as a national police force. It had a secondary military role, which came to the fore in World War I and again in World War II.

1923-1963

The SAP was eligible for the British King's Police Medal, which was awarded annually throughout the British Empire. This was discontinued in 1933, because South Africa had become independent as a member of the new British Commonwealth, and it was replaced in 1937 by a special South African issue of the medal. From 1923, the SAP also had its own long service medal, which doubled as a medal for gallantry. The medals available to the SAP between 1923 and 1963 were thus:

Decoration
  • Queen's Police Medal (South Africa) (1937–61)

Campaign medal

Long service medal
  • Police Good Service Medal (1923–63)

Until 1952, they were incorporated into the British honours system. Thereafter they formed part of the new South African honours system.

1963-2003

After South Africa became a republic (in 1961), the government instituted an entirely new series of decorations and medals for the SAP. It was added to several times over the years:

Decorations

Campaign medal

Commemorative medals
  • 1988: South African Police Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Commemorative Medal ' South African Police Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Commemorative Medal
  • 1995: South African Police Service Amalgamation Medal ' South African Police Service Amalgamation Medal

Long service medals
  • 1963–2004: South African Police Star for Merit ' South African Police Star for Merit
  • 1979–2004: South African Police Star for Faithful Service ' South African Police Star for Faithful Service
  • 1963–2004: South African Police Medal for Faithful Service ' South African Police Medal for Faithful Service

In 1994, the SAP amalgamated with the police forces of the former "homelands" inside South Africa, to form the South African Police Service.

South African Railways Police

1934-1966

The South African Railways Police was established in 1934, to police the country's railways and harbours. It was later responsible for air services too. The SARP was modeled on the SAP, and shared the King's/Queen's Police Medal with it. It also had its own long service medal: the Railways Police Good Service Medal (1934–66).

1966-1986

An entirely new series of decorations and medals was instituted for the SARP in 1966, to match those established for the SAP in 1963. The series was enlarged in 1980, to correspond to the changes made to the SAP awards in 1979. The full range of honours was:

Decorations

Campaign medal

Long service medals

The SARP was amalgamated into the SA Police on 1 October 1986, with all its personnel, assets and equipment transferred to the SAP.

South African Police Service

The South African Police Service, which was formed in 1994 by amalgamating the SAP and the police forces of the former homelands, used the SAP decorations and medals until 2004, when a new series of decorations was instituted:

Decorations

Commemorative medal
Ten Year Commemoration Medal

Long service medals

Animal decoration

Municipal/Metropolitan Police Service

In 1998, the municipal and metropolitan council police forces were brought under the auspices of the SA Police Service Act, and became collectively known as the Municipal/Metropolitan Police Service. A series of decorations and medals was instituted for them in 2008.

Decorations

Commemorative Medal

Long service medals

Animal decoration

Notes
  1. (SOO) - 2nd Type
  2. (PCF) - 1st Type (1963-89)
  3. (PCF) - 2nd Type (1989-2004)
  4. (SOO) - 1st Type
  5. South African Railways Police - Faithful Service - 1st Type
  6. South African Railways Police - Faithful Service - 2nd Type
  7. Celebrating 100 years of policing 1913–2013

References
    • Alexander, E.G.M.; Barron, G.K.B.; Bateman, A.J. (1986). South African Orders, Decorations and Medals. Human and Rousseau.
    • Monick, S. (1988). Awards of the South African Uniformed Public Services 1912-1987. South African National Museum of Military History.

    See also
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