The Chair of the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region (PIER) at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list announced to coincide with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Simon Bailey QPM DL has been named a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his work in child protection. Simon is the former Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary and retired in June 2021 after 35 years' service as a police officer. He was the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for child protection and oversaw the service response to violence and public protection.
As Child Protection Lead, Simon led Operation Hydrant, the national coordination centre for the non-recent sexual abuse of children in institutions and at the hands of persons in position of public prominence. He also led the service response to the threat of online harms and under his leadership UK policing has been acknowledged as the best in the world at targeting offenders.
Since retiring from the police, Simon has taken on a number of appointments focused on tackling exploitation, abuse and vulnerability, including Director of Strategic Engagement with the Child Rescue Coalition and Chair of PIER at ARU. PIER’s mission is to improve policing through applied research and has a specific focus on sexual offending, policing for the 21st century and extremism and counter-terrorism.
Simon’s CBE adds to his previous royal recognition, following his receipt of the Queen’s Police Medal in 2016 and becoming a Deputy Lieutenant in Norfolk in 2021. He said: “I am deeply humbled and privileged to have received this recognition in what is a milestone year for Her Majesty the Queen.
“Having retired from policing last year, I remain committed to furthering national work to protect children from harm and thank the many partners we work with at PIER who share our determination to protect those most vulnerable.”
Professor Roderick Watkins, Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: “We are delighted that Simon’s outstanding career of public service has been recognised with this honour. ARU’s Policing Institute for the Eastern Region carries out important research that makes a real difference to people’s lives, and the scale of this work continues to grow under Simon’s leadership.”
PIER’s annual conference – PIER22: Child Sexual Abuse: Instigating change in practice, partnership and protection – is taking place from 14-15 June. Speakers include the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid, the NPCC Lead for Violence against Women and Girls DCC Maggie Blyth, the NPCC Lead for Child Protection DCC Ian Critchley, and Lorraine Parker of the National Policing Vulnerability Coordination Centre.
