A Greater Manchester Police officer has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list 2023.

The King's Policing Medal was given to Chief Superintendent Emily Higham, the district commander for Wigan.

She has been in the police for 28 years and in 2017 became the first female detective superindentent in the serious and organised crime unit.

She has worked to reduce gun crime and increase weapon seizures.

Under her leadership the north west regional and organied crime unit became the best rated in the country.

In 2019, she won the British Association of Women in Policing National Leadership Award and went on to international success in Alaska.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson welcomed the award.

He said: “Chief Superintendent Higham is a dedicated police officer who has always retained an obvious relish for putting criminals on the back foot.

"Whether through her long experience of tackling serious and organised crime or as the District Commander for Wigan, she has sustained an infectious desire to reduce crime, safeguard the vulnerable and to achieve better results for victims and communities.

"She is a credit to Greater Manchester Police.”