New Year’s Honours for Lynne Potts and Ian Hanson of GMP

Assistant Chief Officer Lynne Potts awarded an MBE

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Assistant Chief Officer Lynne Potts, GMP’s most senior member of police staff, has been awarded an MBE and Chief Inspector and Chairman of GMP’s Police Federation, Ian Hanson, has been honoured with a Queen’s Police Medal.

Assistant Chief Officer Lynne Potts, a chartered accountant, is responsible for the force’s support services including finance, people and workforce development, IT, business support and estates. She joined GMP in 2003 after previously working in a number of senior NHS roles and has been awarded for her continued dedication.

Ms Potts said: “I am overwhelmed to receive the honour after 14 years working in the police service. Police staff are an essential part of policing and it is great to feel that this has been recognised. It has had extra significance for me as I am currently fighting breast and secondary cancer of the spine and hope to be back in work in the Spring.”

She is planning a series of fundraising events in 2017 for two local charities, the Department of Neurosurgery at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and cancer research at the Christie Hospital.

Chief Inspector Ian Hanson, who is also the Chairman of Greater Manchester Police Federation, has been honoured with a Queen’s Police Medal.

CI Hanson has been acknowledged for his work on behalf of GMP Federation, most notably for his support and leadership to GMP and families after the force’s darkest day – the terrible murders of colleagues PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone in 2012.

The honour also recognises CI Hanson's additional charity work outside of his GMP role, as Chairman of the Police Treatment Centres at Harrogate and Auchterarder, which provide treatment to sick and injured colleagues. He is also the Chairman of The St George’s Police Children Trust, which supports children of police officers who have either passed away or suffered serious life changing conditions.

He said: “As a proud Greater Manchester Police officer, it’s a great honour to be awarded a Queen’s Police Medal in the New Year’s Honours. Whilst it is incredibly humbling to receive this honour I think it is important that we consider this to be recognition for all the hard work that federation colleagues do for others across the whole of GMP.

“I am particularly pleased that the work of the Police Treatment Centres and The St George’s Police Children Trust is also jointly recognised by this honour – they are two charities which I hold close to my heart because I passionately believe that the police is a family and a family looks after each other when they hit hard times.

“While we have had some incredibly difficult and distressing periods as a force during my time as Chairman of Greater Manchester Police Federation, one thing that has never wavered is the unstinting hard work of my GMP colleagues and those fantastic local federation reps that give up their time to support their colleagues.”

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “I’m delighted Lynne and Ian have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.

“Both are extremely passionate about their roles and work tirelessly to support colleagues and serve the communities of Greater Manchester.

“On behalf of Greater Manchester Police, I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to both of them and thank them for their continued commitment and dedication.“

Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, Brandon Lewis, said: “I would like to congratulate Chief Inspector Ian Hanson on his Queen’s Police Medal and Assistant Chief Officer Lynne Potts on her MBE for their work at Greater Manchester Police, helping to cut crime and keeping communities safe. This year, I am particularly pleased that more than half of those receiving Queen’s Police Medals will be from junior ranks, and will be rewarded for their tireless work and service.”