James Sole
Sergeant James Sole, of Ashburton, received the Queen's Service Medal for services to the New Zealand Police. Sergeant Sole leads the Christchurch Family Safety Team, which provides a multi-agency response to assist families at high risk of family violence. He has led new initiatives to deal with honour-based violence, especially in immigrant communities, and has established networks with Women's Refuges and other key agencies such as Child, Youth and Family. He has also developed a strong relationship with the Brainwaves Trust, which aims to have every child in New Zealand being raised in a caring and secure environment. Sergeant Sole has brought about significant behaviour changes within the New Zealand Police, with his views being regularly sought by Police National Headquarters. He also supports the Kiribati Police Service, where he works for six weeks a year under the umbrella of the Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme.