Seven NCA officers have been recognised in The Queen’s New Year’s Honours for 2022 for their exceptional work in law enforcement, preventing serious and organised crime, and in diversity and inclusion.

• Peter Vernon has been made an OBE for services to International Law Enforcement. Peter, who is an International Liaison Officer in Vietnam, had a pivotal role liaising with Vietnamese authorities to ensure justice for the 39 Vietnamese nationals who died in a lorry container in Essex in October 2019.

• Kate Liddell has been made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Law Enforcement and Ecology. Kate’s skills in data science have enabled the faster processing of online information in drugs and child sexual abuse investigations, aiding the safeguarding of children and the dismantling of criminal networks.
  
  
• Director General of the NECC Rob Jones has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to Prevention of Serious and Organised Crime. Rob has been recognised for his dynamic leadership, particularly around the operational response to online child sexual abuse and in heading up the NCA’s response to the Covid19 pandemic, during which time the agency tackled more serious organised criminality than ever before.
  
  
• Johnny Elford has been made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Law Enforcement. Johnny’s sustained commitment to law enforcement ensured lives were safeguarded, and these actions supported countless investigations and prosecutions of serious and organised criminals.

• Neil Harris has been made an MBE for services to Law Enforcement. Neil is a UK expert and leader of the NCA’s counterfeit currency office. Counterfeit currency is used by organised crime groups to finance illegal activities including trafficking, drugs and terrorism. His tenacity, meticulous analysis and expert evidence has resulted in the disruption of multiple OCGs, numerous prosecutions and the seizure of millions of pounds in fake currency.

• Sarah Osborne has been made an MBE for services to Law Enforcement and Partnership Working. Sarah is a branch support manager at the NCA and went above and beyond volunteering to provide crucial on-site support to the investigation into the 39 deaths of Vietnamese nationals found in a lorry container in Essex.

• Andrea Malam has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Law Enforcement in the area of Diversity and Inclusion. Andrea raised awareness of ethnic and racial diversity in the NCA, and contributed significantly to implementing change across law enforcement. Andrea has become a leader in diversity and inclusion in the NCA and has also been involved in the mentoring of more than 20 officers.

• Bob Cooper received a Queen’s Police Medal for his long policing career. Bob, who now works as a Crime Investigation Support Officer, achieved 30 years of service with Wiltshire police, including three years leading its rape and serious sexual offences work.

Director General Graeme Biggar said: “These honours are testament to the recipients’ passion, diligence and devotion to protecting the public, and also showcase the breadth and impact of the NCA’s activity in leading the UK’s fight against serious and organised crime.

“I send my warmest congratulations to all those receiving awards; I know that the whole Agency takes pride in their success following another exceptional year for the NCA.”

31 December 2021