Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021

Thames Valley Police is delighted to announce this evening (11/6) that four of our officers and staff have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021.

• Detective Chief Superintendent Richard List, Head of Force Intelligence and Specialist Operation has been awarded a Queens Police Medal (QPM);
• Temporary Chief Superintendent Bhupinder (Bobbi) Rai, Head of Local Policing has been awarded a Queens Police Medal (QPM);
• Principle Investigator Peter Beirne, Major Crime Review Team has been awarded a Member of the British Empire (MBE);
• Misconduct Manager Christine Bovingdon-Cox has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM).

Each of them has worked tirelessly to serve the communities of the Thames Valley.

Thames Valley Police Chief Constable John Campbell said: “I am delighted to see four Thames Valley Police officers and staff recognised for their service to policing in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

“These awards highlight their commitment and hard work to protect and keep our communities safe and they should be rightly proud of their achievements.

“I offer congratulations on behalf of all their Thames Valley Police colleagues and our partners.”

Upon learning about being recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, Chief Superintendent Richard List said: “I am very pleased and humbled to be recognised with a Queens Police Medal.

“This award is not just about me, it is in recognition of all the fantastic officers and staff who I have had the privilege to work alongside over the past 30 years.

“I have spent the majority of my career working across Buckinghamshire and in Force Intelligence and Specialist Operations and during that time I have been surrounded by marvellous colleagues who work hard every day to serve and protect the public.

“Finally I would like to thank to my wife Moira and my children, they have supported me through the ups and downs throughout my challenging yet rewarding career.”

Reflecting on Chief Superintendent List’s achievement, Chief Constable John Campbell said: “Richard has led our approach to Organised Crime, Cyber Crime and Economic Crime over most recent years and his leadership has seen the disruption, dismantling and prosecution of numerous organised crime groups. There is no doubt that countless vulnerable people have been spared exploitation.

“Further, his collaboration with leaders in the field of behavioural science has resulted in a transformative initiative being rolled out across the Thames Valley which has increased victim co-operation in rape investigations - without this co-operation justice would not have been served.”

After being informed she is to receive the QPM, Temporary Chief Superintendent Bobbi Rai said: “I joined the police service 29 years ago with the intention of helping people. Every day since, I have strived to do the very best job I can for the public we serve.

“As with any journey, there have, of course, been challenges along the way, but I have had some excellent support from peers and colleagues and together we have worked to help to shape policing for the future. Those people know who are they and I thank them sincerely for their ongoing support.

“I still remember my early years as a police officer; not ever in my wildest dreams did I think my work would be recognised in the way that it has. My job has bought me great personal satisfaction; knowing that I am in a position where I can make a difference to others lives when they may be going through the worst of times.  I hope that such recognition will help to inspire and encourage others to join this profession and to strive to be the very best that they can.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled to be recognised for just doing my job. I could not have done that job without the endless support and encouragement from my husband and sons to whom I am indebted for looking after me whenever things were tough and encouraging me to continue whenever I felt deflated.

“To receive such recognition as I approach the end of my police service fills me with great pride.”

Chief Constable Campbell added: “Bobbi has served as a police officer in Thames Valley for 29 years.

“Notwithstanding the excellent contribution she has made to the force and our communities, she was also our first senior ranking Asian officer in the force and is the most senior female Sikh officer in the country.

“Bobbi has devoted much of her spare time to supporting under-representative groups into and throughout their policing careers.  Bobbi is an important role model, for those she supports and encourages, and for us as an inclusive police service.”

Pete Beirne, principal investigator of Thames Valley Police's Cold case team, the Major Crime Review Team, has been awarded the MBE.

Pete, who grew up in Aylesbury, joined Thames Valley Police as a police cadet in 1974, and rose through the ranks to become Detective Chief Inspector, working in the force’s Major Crime Unit.

In 2007 Pete retired, but immediately returned as the head of the Major Crime Review Team.

“I am extremely honoured and elated to be recognised in this way,” Principal Investigator Beirne said.

“I have been very fortunate in my career to have worked, with colleagues, on complex and serious investigations and I feel privileged to have been able to serve the public for over forty years, doing a job that I still enjoy.

“I must thank my colleagues, past and present, particularly those in the Major Crime Review Team, who have worked with me, trying to achieve justice for victims and their families.

“I must also pay tribute to my wife and children, who have been unwavering in their support.”

Chief Constable Campbell said: “Pete has had a long and successful policing career with Thames Valley Police starting as a police cadet in 1976.

“After Pete retired in 2007 he immediately returned as the head of the Major Crime Review Team.

“During his time as head of the team, they have solved five historic murders and seventeen rapes ensuring that we continue to strive to get justice for victims, no matter the passage of time.”

Upon learning about being recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, Christine Bovingdon-Cox, Misconduct Manager said: “I absolutely delighted to receive a BEM, while at the same time stunned that I have been nominated.

“I worked as a police officer in Thames Valley for 40 years and when I retired, I re-joined as a member of police staff where I have been working for the past nine years.

“Throughout my the whole of my career my focus has been on serving and protecting the public and seeking justice for victims, particularly those vulnerable to domestic and child abuse.

“All I have done over the past 50 years is do the job that I have been employed to do and I have never expected to be recognised in this way.”

Chief Constable John Campbell added: “Christine has had a remarkable career at Thames Valley Police, joining in 1973 and working for us for 49 years.

“Her career as an officer and more recently a member of police staff has spanned the disciplines of child abuse investigation, homicide, counter-terrorism and professional standards.

“Throughout she has focussed on protecting and serving the public, which she continues to do to this day.”

MC/JW

Pete Beirne

Christine Bovindon-Cox

Bhupinder (Bobbi) Rai

Richard List