Monifieth man's MBE recognises services to law and order

Graeme Anderson, 52, formerly Lead Events Planning Officer, Tayside Division, Police Scotland has been awarded an MBE for services to Event Planning and Law and Order in Dundee.

He was a police planner in Scotland who has led the planning of operations and events such as the G8 Summit at Gleneagles in 2005, T in the Park music festivals, the British Open, Royal visits and the annual Christmas Light Switch On celebrations.

He worked with Dundee City Council staff, event organisers, bus companies, specialist police teams and private companies to develop plans to regenerate Dundee City, through the creation of a large music venue at Slessor Gardens and the opening of the V&A at Dundee. He supported this regeneration by creating complex contingency plans and providing tactical advice to ensure the safety of the public.

Dundee’s two major football clubs have also benefitted from Graeme’s expertise and over two decades he has personally guided and supported both clubs to develop their working practises around the safety of the public and to safely hold significant matches, including hosting the largest teams in Scotland and a number of European teams.

In 2017 he was the recipient of a Working in Partnership award at the Tayside Community Justice Awards.

Since retiring from Police Scotland late in 2020, Graeme is now Head of Stadium Operations at Dundee United Football Club - the club he’s supported all his life. He is married with three adult children.

On receiving the news, Graeme said: “It’s a huge honour for me to receive this award and I’d like to thank all those people I’ve worked with over the years who helped to make events in Tayside as safe and successful as possible.” He added: “Special thanks must go to my wife Lynn, who without doubt deserves the award far more than I do.”

A date has still to be set for the ceremony but Mr Anderson will be heading to London to receive his award in due course.