Ealing’s UWL recognises emergency service leaders with doctorates

Ealing’s University of West London (UWL) has awarded honorary doctorates to Parm Sandhu and Pauline Cranmer, two women with decades of experience in emergency services leadership, recognising their contributions to policing, paramedicine and public service reform.

Parm Sandhu, a former police chief superintendent, received an Honorary Doctor of Letters last Wednesday (30 July 2025) in recognition of her Met Police career and work in shaping more inclusive and accountable policing practices.

Now CEO of the London Policing College, Ms Sandhu spent more than 30 years in law enforcement, serving in both uniformed and detective roles. She led as borough commander in Richmond and worked across counter-terrorism, public order, firearms, mental health, and crime prevention.

She has long been an advocate for reform within policing, particularly on violence against women and girls. During her time with the Met, she helped shape responses to female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and  honour-based killings, while also pushing forward initiatives around inclusion and safeguarding.

In her 2021 memoir, Black and Blue, Ms Sandhu documents a policing career shaped by both public service and institutional challenge.

Her honorary degree also acknowledges her work in police education. She has supported UWL’s development of BSc and Masters programmes in policing and contributed to training through Babcock, which has seen more than 1,000 officers graduate into the Met.

Adrian Ellison, UWL’s pro vice chancellor for people and digital, said: “Parm Sandhu has had a distinguished and strategically impactful career in policing both in and out of uniform. She deserves this award for her resilience, unwavering commitment to justice and equality, her inspiration for future generations of leaders and her advocacy for police education here at UWL and beyond.”

Addressing graduates, Ms Sandhu said: “I want to offer you my warmest congratulations on your achievements. I encourage you to hold fast to your curiosity. The world needs your voice, your talents, and your ideas. Work with courage, compassion, and authenticity.”

Alongside Ms Sandhu, UWL also honoured last Friday (1 August 2025) Pauline Cranmer, chief paramedic officer for the London Ambulance Service, with an Honorary Doctor of Letters for her career of over 30 years in the ambulance service.

Ms Cranmer joined the London Ambulance Service in 1994 as an ambulance technician and qualified as a paramedic in 1996. She has held leadership roles at every level of the service, culminating in her current position on the executive board, where she has responsibility for clinical education, operational delivery and emergency preparedness.

She also serves as the Trust’s accountable emergency officer and executive lead for safeguarding, sexual safety at work, and the Women’s Network. In 2019, Ms Cranmer was awarded a Queen’s Ambulance Medal for distinguished service.

Neil Larman, paramedic professional lead at UWL’s College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare, said: “Pauline is a powerful ally to the UWL Paramedic Science team sharing our aspirations of graduates empowered with clinical excellence, leadership skills, and unwavering integrity. She is a vital critical friend to our strategic ambition and remains available to provide support at all levels despite such concurrent demand.”

Addressing the graduating cohort, Ms Cranmer said: “You are entering a profession that is as challenging as it is rewarding. You will be the calm in the chaos and the voice of reassurance. You will make a difference. Never underestimate the power of compassion, nor the impact that your presence will make in someone’s most vulnerable moments. At the heart of everything we do, every shift, every decision, every innovation is a patient. The patient is our purpose, their dignity, their safety, their wellbeing must always guide our actions.”