CT officers recognised in New Year Honours

Counter Terrorism Policing officers have been recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Explosives officer Mick Kettle has been awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Kettle spent 25 years as an ammunition technician in the British Army before joining the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) as an explosives officer. During his career, Mick has dealt with some of the most complex terrorist explosive devices, in hugely demanding circumstances.

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Gosling has been awarded the King’s Police Medal (KPM). DCI Gosling has been praised for his leadership in policing operations relating to high-risk counter terrorism and national security threats in the UK, including threat to life and national security investigations at a national level.

Detective Chief Superintendent Hayley Sewart has been awarded the King’s Police Medal (KPM). Det Ch Supt Sewart has played a pivotal role in transforming the national policing knife crime portfolio since 2017. She is the pioneer of the now national knife crime initiative, Op Sceptre, which first launched in London.

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Matt Jukes said: “At Counter Terrorism Policing there are incredible officers and staff, doing incredible things every single day to keep the public safe from a myriad of threats.

“To see them feature in the honours list this year is fantastic and highlights the commitment and dedication that so many of our people embody.

“These honours are just one element of the much wider contribution policing makes to the safety and security of our communities.

“Congratulations to all of those receiving honours, you thoroughly deserve the recognition.

“I hope that alongside the recipients’ families and friends, the public are also proud to know that there are exceptional people keeping them safe.”

National Chair of the Counter Terrorism Youth Advisory Group, Travis Frain has been awarded an OBE. Frain was involved in the Westminster Bridge attack in 2017 and now works to counter terrorism. He now works as a Lecturer in Policing at the University of Salford, and has also worked with thousands of young people in schools and colleges across the UK, delivering workshops about radicalisation and extremism.

In addition to this, he has spent several years working with Counter Terrorism Policing as the National Chair of the Youth Advisory Group, recently receiving a formal commendation for his work.

Assistant commissioner Jukes added: “Travis is an inspiration to all of us at Counter Terrorism Policing; he has demonstrated such bravery, strength and resilience in the face of great horror and works tirelessly to educate others about extremism. I am thrilled that he too has been recognised in this way.”

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