Metropolitan Police Authority magistrate member Rachel Whittaker has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List.
The award is for services to the Metropolitan Police Committee to which she was appointed in 1995, and its successor, the MPA, established in July 2000 to maintain an efficient and effective police service for the Metropolitan Police District.
Chair of the MPA''s Human resources Committee and link member for Westminster, Rachel Whittaker said:
"I am delighted to accept this award and feel it recognises the work of the Police Committee and now the Police Authority. My colleagues and I have worked with the Met''s senior management team to build a police service that recognises the needs of all London''s diverse communities and to make London safer.
"The introduction of Borough based policing has allowed a much more focused service externally. Internally, we have reviewed working practices, pay and conditions in an attempt to improve the working environment of all the officers and support staff employed by the service, whilst at the same time ensuring improved financial accountability for the Capital''s taxpayers.
"We are still a very young Authority and recognise that there is still much to achieve. My focus in the coming year will concentrate on the human resources policies to support of the Police Reform Agenda."
An independent consultant, Rachel Whittaker was appointed to the Inner London Division in 1995. A sociology graduate from the University of London, she has worked in advertising, marketing and human resources. She spent more than 20 years with Reuters working in both the UK and North America, latterly as Director of Personnel. She has extensive voluntary experience, including membership of a local authority, area health authority, governor of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Her interests include travelling, walking, bridge and entertaining.
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