A NORTH Wales Police officer has been appointed an MBE for his services to tackling domestic abuse.
PC Michael Taggart - a Strategic Domestic Abuse Officer for NWP - attended Windsor Castle on February 23, where he was presented with the award by Princess Anne.
PC Taggart was just 15 years old when his mother Donna, was murdered by his stepfather. Since then, he has dedicated his life to helping others by becoming a police officer.
In 2014, he specialised to become a tactical domestic abuse officer, covering the county of Denbighshire and is now a Strategic Domestic Abuse Officer in the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit.
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Upon being appointed MBE, PC Taggart said: “I’m so honoured to have received this MBE, it’s totally unbelievable to think that work you do day to day, can have such a significant impact.
"I’m really proud to think that something so profound can come of something so difficult. I’m so grateful to my colleagues who have given me so much support, which has allowed me to share the important message that domestic abuse is very real and we can all play a part in trying to tackle it.
"Meeting HRH Princess Anne was also unforgettable, with her saying that she can only imagine how eventful it was to be a police officer with a surname like Taggart.
"I’m still very much riding high on the whole experience and am eternally grateful to have received this incredible accolade.”
The aptly-named PC Taggart has put in so much hard work over the years to help support victims of domestic abuse such as securing funding for the domestic abuse roadshow throughout North Wales aimed at raising awareness of domestic abuse in the hair and beauty industry.
He’s also been pivotal in helping to raise awareness of the White Ribbon Day campaign designed to end male violence against women in many ways such as displaying the White Ribbon on all North Wales Police vehicles and 1,700 taxis across North Wales as well as organising several “light-up” vigils in North Wales in November 2021.
North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Allsop said: “The Chief Officer team, along with the rest of North Wales Police are incredibly proud and grateful to PC Mike Taggart for all his hard work and dedication to victims of domestic abuse.
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"Our officers and staff deal with domestic abuse on a daily basis, in particular violence against women and girls and we continually seek out new ways of supporting and reaching out to those affected by it.
"Mike has played a vital role in this with some truly inspirational campaigns, partnership work and innovation. I am delighted to see him receive the recognition he thoroughly deserves and want to offer him my personal congratulations."
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