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Inspector Richard Stones Honoured by the Queen
The work of a senior Police officer who has earned his stripes by bridging the gap between the public and private sector and for his role in helping to reduce business crime, has been recognised by the highest order in the land.
In June, Inspector Richard Stones, the staff officer to Sue Fish, the National Business Lead for Business Crime on the National Police Chiefs Council (formerly ACPO) was awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List.
The award was bestowed upon the Nottinghamshire-based officer for his long and distinguished career and his contribution to policing and the business community.
The 49-year-old trained pilot has helped bring policing and the business community together through tireless lobbying and a number of initiatives including his steering role on the National Business Crime Forum and involvement with the not-for-profit National Business Crime Solution.
Inspector Stones has worked all over the world and his other achievements include being a Chartered Security Professional, a Freeman of the City of London and Senior Vice President of CSCSS, the Centre for Strategic Cyberspace and Security Science, as well as Chair of Cyber Crime Intelligence group C3i.
A graduate from the University of Derby College of Law, Humanities and Social Science, Richard was also Technical Advisor to the 2011 - 2015 EU funded DeSURBS project – Designing Safer Urban Spaces Advisory Council. He is also a member of the City Security and Resilience Network – (CSARN) and a Fellow of the Security Institute.
A modest man, Richard said: “I have been fortunate to work in some very interesting positions and privileged to work alongside some very dedicated officers and civilians who share my passion for raising the profile of business crime, particularly at a time when policing has seen some dramatic cutbacks. However, necessity is the mother in invention and this has driven forward a more collaborative approach between the public and private sectors.”
Speaking about his Queen’s birthday honour, Richard added: “No one was more shocked than me to receive an OBE. In fact, I thought the letter was a wind-up at first.
"I was mowing the lawn when the post arrived and I got the letter from the Cabinet Office. I deal with letters from the Cabinet Office every day at work but I wondered what they were doing writing to me at home.
"I then saw the letter mentioned the Prime Minister and I definitely thought it was a joke. However, when I learned that it was genuine, I felt deeply honoured.
Inspector Stones will receive the OBE at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace later this year.
