WORK on repatriations by police and the forces in Lyneham has been praised by a senior MoD civil servant.

Sir Ian Andrews, Second Permanent Under Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, made a special visit to RAF Lyneham to personally praise the way the repatriation of fallen British servicemen from Iraq and Afghanistan is managed by the RAF base and the police.

During his visit he was looked after by PC Jarra Brown, the Ministry of Defence community police officer for the station.

And while there he presented PC Brown with the Commendation of the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police.

The citation says he was given the award for: “His sensitive, respectful and professional handling of the policing arrangements surrounding the repatriation of fallen service personnel to the UK via RAF Lyneham.

“His calm and measured support has been of considerable comfort to bereaved families and has insured that this most sensitive of activities has passed off with dignity and professionalism.”

PC Brown has been put forward as the Ministry of Defence Police Community Officer representative at the annual Jane’s Police Review Awards, which take place in London in November.

PC Brown said he was proud to play a role in the repatriation process: “The whole of the wider community in Wiltshire want to pay their respects.

“With my Wiltshire police colleagues, I simply made sure that all the necessary policing was in place to enable that to happen.

“Everybody played a part. It wasn’t a job, it was a privilege.”

The RAF Lyneham Station Commander, Group Captain Mike Neville said: “Jarra has been employed as the Community Police Officer here at RAF Lyneham for two years.

“During this time, he has developed an exceptional relationship with all personnel at the station.

“He plays an important role in providing a link between the military and civilian communities.”