Chief Constable awarded knighthood as other West Yorkshire Police staff honoured in New Year Honours 2025
West Yorkshire Police’s chief constable has received a knighthood while fellow colleagues have also been recognised in the New Year Honours list.
A Detective Chief Superintendent, a police staff member and a police volunteer have also been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026.
Sir John Robins QPM DL has received the knighthood for services to policing while Detective Chief Supt. Heather Whoriskey has been awarded The King’s Police Medal (KPM) for her operational skill, strategic leadership and commitment to public service.
Ramona Senior has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her dedication to public service in reducing the threat to communities from serious and organised crime.
Dudley Martin has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his professionalism and leadership as volunteer Lead Chaplain.
Sir John Robins QPM DL
Sir John Robins QPM DL has dedicated his entire career to the force. Since joining as a constable in 1990, he has taken on varied responsibilities and leadership positions that ultimately led to his appointment as Chief Constable in 2019. He is now one of the longest serving Chief Constables in the United Kingdom.
On receiving the honour for ‘services to policing’, Sir John said: “I am truly humbled by this honour. Like many colleagues, I chose to dedicate my whole working life to policing. For me, policing is a vocation; to receive a knighthood for doing a job that I feel so strongly about means so much. I am both surprised and delighted. I am also very proud to represent policing and West Yorkshire at the heart of the national honours system.
“I have focused my whole career on reducing crime, protecting the vulnerable and reassuring the public that we are here for them. I know that police officers, staff and volunteers do that every day across our county and our country. I thank them for their public service and I am honoured to be their colleague.
“I am indebted to my wife and family for their unwavering support over many decades and the dedication they have given to my policing career.
“Uniquely, I have spent my whole career in West Yorkshire Police, it is a part of me. The officers, staff and volunteers who I work alongside are outstanding. I look forward to working with them for many years to come, as we continue to serve the communities of West Yorkshire together.”
Alongside leading the fourth biggest police force in the country, Sir John also leads one of the largest counter terrorism units outside of London; Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTPNE) and has responsibility for the region’s Scientific Support Services (RSSS) and the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU). Nationally, he leads the National Police Air Service (NPAS) which provides aviation support across England and Wales.
Detective Chief Supt. Heather Whoriskey
Detective Chief Supt. Whoriskey is seen as a driving force in developing policing’s understanding and response to complex online harm, serving as the national lead for Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse within the network of Regional Organised Crime Units. As the Head of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) she successfully led the unit through an HMICFRS inspection that received exceptional feedback.
She is also the founder and national lead of the Women in Serious and Organised Crime network (WISOC), a pioneering initiative which aims to ensure proportionate representation within specialist areas of policing.
She has also played a prominent role within the British Association of Women in Policing and the Police Superintendents’ Association, using her platform to coach and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Detective Chief Supt. Heather Whoriskey KPM said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition and accept it with immense gratitude. I do so in the knowledge that any achievements are shared with those who have supported and worked alongside me over the years. I would especially like to thank my husband and family who have been a constant source of support.”
Ramona Senior
In her role in the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) Ramona is one of the most senior police staff investigators in the UK. She is also the first ever police staff member to be a senior investigating officer for serious and organised crime, kidnap and extortion and an accredited strategic investigator. In her 20 years’ service she has led on several highly complex criminal investigations involving fraud, money laundering, illicit finances and cybercrime.
Ramona is described as a formidable investigator, a role model for women and an exemplary leader.
Ramona Senior MBE said: “I am truly humbled to receive an MBE for services to policing. This recognition is not mine alone, it reflects the outstanding dedication and resilience of the officers and staff I have had the privilege to work alongside. Every success has been a collective effort, and I am grateful for their unwavering commitment to protecting our communities. I also want to thank my family and friends for their enduring support throughout this journey. I hope this honour serves as an inspiration to others to consider a career in public service”
Dudley Martin BEM
Dudley Martin BEM was appointed a police chaplain in 2012 after retiring with 30 years’ service as a uniformed police officer. In his voluntary roles as District Chaplain and since 2016, Lead Chaplain, Dudley has provided over 11,000 hours of his time to West Yorkshire Police, highlighting the passion and commitment he has in supporting officers, staff and other volunteers.
Dudley has played a significant part in developing a team of more than 26 volunteer chaplains who provide consistent independent support to those enduring the most challenging of circumstances. They provide welfare visits to those suffering after bereavement, financial struggles, relationship breakdown, work related trauma and all manner of situations that impact on their ability to function in role.
Dudley Martin BEM, who also sits as a Trustee for Police Chaplaincy UK, said: “I am obviously very excited to be recognised in this way as it also promotes chaplaincy in the police service. It’s a real privilege to lead such an amazing team who bring a vast array of experience from a variety of work and cultural backgrounds to the benefit of the service.”
West Yorkshire Police’s Chief Constable Sir John Robins QPM DL said: “I am immensely proud that three of our colleagues have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours. Their dedication, professionalism and compassion exemplify the very best of West Yorkshire Police.
“Heather has made a fantastic contribution to policing. Across every role she has shown integrity, operational excellence and a relentless commitment to protecting the most vulnerable.
“Ramona’s trailblazing investigative work as a senior investigating officer has directly contributed to making our communities safer, she is an amazing role model for so many colleagues.
“Dudley’s tireless voluntary service over so many years is incredible, he has provided invaluable support to so many of our officers and staff and we are all so grateful to him.
“These honours are testament to their outstanding contribution to policing.”