Indian Police Medal
{{about|the medal awarded from 1932 to 1951|the medal awarded from 1951|Police Medal (India)}}
{{Infobox military award
| name = Indian Police Medal
| image = 100px
Original ribbon, used for meritorious awards after 1945
100px
Ribbon for gallantry awards 1945–1950
| caption =
| presenter = the British Raj
Dominion of India
| country =
| type = Police decoration
| eligibility = Members of the police forces of India
| awarded_for = Distinguished Conduct (1932–1944)
Meritorious Service or Gallantry (1945–1950)
| campaign =
| status = No longer awarded after 1951, replaced by Police Medal
| description =
| motto =
| clasps =
| post-nominals =
| established = 23 February 1932
| firstawarded =
| lastawarded =
| total_awarded =
| total_awarded_posthumously =
| total_recipients =
| precedence_label =Order of Wear
| individual =
| higher = Indian Order of Merit (Civil) (gallantry){{London Gazette|issue=56878|page=3352|date=17 March 2003|supp=y}}
Imperial Service Medal (meritorious)
| same =
| lower = Ceylon Police Medal for Gallantry (gallantry)
Ceylon Police Medal for Merit (meritorious)
| related = Overseas Territories Police Medal
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The Indian Police Medal (IPM) was an award of the British Raj presented to both European and Asian police personnel. Established in 1932, the award was presented for meritorious service and gallantry that was of a lesser degree than what was required for the King's Police Medal.
History
It was decided that further recognition was required for the members of the police forces within India. Already eligible for the King's Police Medal, there were many acts of service and bravery notable enough for recognition, but not meeting the requirements of the King's Police Medal. On 23 February 1932, a royal warrant was promulgated establishing the Indian Police Medal. The medal was meant to recognize both acts of meritorious and noteworthy service, as well as gallantry. The medal was limited to 200 annual awards.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29958673 |title=INDIAN POLICE MEDAL. |newspaper=The Mercury |location=Hobart, Tasmania |date=9 June 1932 |access-date=14 September 2014 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} A royal warrant in 1942 allowed the Viceroy of India, in exceptional circumstances, to raise the number of awards to 250 in a year.{{London Gazette|date=1 December 1942 |issue=35806 |page=5229 }} The Indian Police Medal ceased to be awarded after India became a republic. The Indian Police medal was replaced by the Police Medal which was established by the Government of India notification dated 15 March 1951.{{cite book|title=The Police in India|last=Chande|first=B.|isbn=9788171566280|page=518|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WIrLjQrgJGoC|year=1997|publisher=Atlantic Publishers and Distributors}}{{cite book|last1=Mackay|first1=edited by James|last2=Mussell|first2=John W.|last3=News|first3=the Editorial Team of Medal|title=The medal yearbook 2004|date=2004|publisher=Token Publishing Ltd.|location=Devon, UK|isbn=9781870192620|page=98}}
Appearance
The Indian Police Medal is round and made of bronze. The obverse bears the effigy of the reigning monarch. The reverse of the medal depicts a wreath around the edge, surmounted by a crown. In the middle are the words FOR GALLANTRY or FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE depending on the conditions under which the medal was awarded.{{London Gazette|date=29 December 1944 |issue=36865 |page=5963 }} The first version of the medal bore the inscription FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT.{{cite book|title=To guard my people: the history of the Indian Police |last=Griffiths |first=Sir Percival Joseph |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=URUFAQAAIAAJ |date=1971 |publisher=Benn |page=418|isbn=9780510269425 }}
The suspension and service ribbons of the medal are {{convert|1+3/8|in|mm}} wide. It is dark blue, with silver edges and a crimson centre stripe. For gallantry awards, the blue sections are split by a thin silver stripe.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Decorations of the United Kingdom}}
Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of British India
Category:Civil awards and decorations of India
Category:Law enforcement awards and honors
Category:Awards established in 1932
Category:1932 establishments in India
Category:History of law enforcement in India