I am with our JBB Secretary Steve Davenport and writing this on a train, careering through the Oxfordshire countryside towards York, where this year’s National Police Memorial Service is to take place.
Every year, quite rightly, we remember the dead from two world wars and many other conflicts. Since modern policing began in Britain, 4,000 police officers have laid down their lives in the course of their duty.
It was following the killing of one officer, PC Jon Odell from Kent, that National Police Memorial Day was founded by Joe Holness a police officer from Kent.
Joe said that Jon’s death had “deeply affected everyone in Kent Police” and from this grew his resolve that there should be a National Memorial Service to remember and honour all fallen officers to demonstrate to their relatives, colleagues and friends that their sacrifice is not forgotten.
Joe’s tenacity was rewarded in 2004 with the inaugural service taking place in London at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Since then, the service has taken place each year alternating between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales with HRH The Prince of Wales becoming the Patron.
This year’s service will be particularly poignant, following the murder PC Ian Dibell from Essex Police in July and the murder of PC Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone from Geater Manchester Police, whose funerals take place next week.
The ‘ambush’ and murder of Nicola and Fiona place the risks that police officers face at an all time high and the level at which some criminals are prepared to stoop to an all time low.
National Police Memorial Day ensures that their sacrifice and of those gone before will never be forgotten.
I have included a link to the National Police Memorial Website to this page where you can find further information about the charity and its work plus details on how to make a donation or how you may help.
Clive
Clive Chamberlain
Chairman
Dorset Police Federation
