Over the past two days, thousands of police officers have made their way to Manchester to pay their respects to PC’s Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone, whose funerals have now taken place. They were joined by many of members of the public – who stood shoulder to shoulder with them, lining the route, to demonstrate to the families and colleagues of the murdered officers that they care.
PC’s Nick Manning and Phil Billington represented our Joint Branch Board; other officers from Dorset have also been inManchester, some off duty, some working in place of GMP Colleagues so that they were able to attend the service.
The one issue that has struck me following this tragedy is I am so glad that we live in a country where the murder of police officers is a relatively rare occurrence and still shocks, angers and saddens the majority of people.
Archbishop Dr John Sentamu said at the National Police Memorial Service in York only last Sunday that “Evil does not have the last word – love does” The public outpouring of kindness and support that has been shown has been quite extraordinary, very welcome and living proof that Love does have the last word.
Clive
Clive Chamberlain
Chairman
Dorset Police Federation
