Federation backs plans for online police memorial

19 October 2022

The UK Police Memorial.

Derbyshire Federation chair Tony Wetton has backed plans for a digital memorial for police officers who are killed in the line of duty.

The Police Arboretum Memorial Trust envisages the site as an online companion to the UK Police Memorial which they helped establish at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

It would record the names of fallen officers and carry tributes and personal stories, including interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, as well as news archives and personal photographs.

Tony said: “Police officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect the public. Sadly, and tragically some of those brave officers never get to go home. This is why it is so important that we never forget their sacrifice – and this website will be a way of keeping their memory alive.”

He added: “I also hope it will be a source of comfort for grieving family, friends, and colleagues of those fallen officers. The website is still being shaped and I know the trust are very keen to hear feedback from members and from the public about how it should develop. So, I would urge you to take a few minutes to give that feedback.”

The trust has created an online consultation to gather your views. It takes a few minutes to complete.

It has also kicked off a month-long programme of activity among police representatives, charities and families to encourage them to engage with the digital memorial project.

The chair of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trustees, Martin Hewitt, said: “We are at a crossroads as we embark on the next phase of this exciting project and our development of the digital memorial. Your views really do count as we create a fitting online tribute to our police service, and I would encourage everyone to complete the online survey.

“Working with our partner, the Police Roll of Honour Trust, the digital memorial will give visitors access to the records of almost 5,000 police officers who have dedicated their lives to policing, from as far back as the Bow Street Runners in 1749.”