There was emotion as police officers who have died on duty were remembered by their family and friends at the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Annual Service of Remembrance.

 

Surviving family members and serving police officers gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday 3 August to pay their respects to officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

 

More than 1,000 people attended the service in Staffordshire – where the rain thankfully held off.

 

Events took place all weekend for surviving family members. 

 

During the one-hour service on Sunday, survivors recalled their loss and how the charity had helped them in their time of need.

 

Two daughters of fallen police officers and a sister of a colleague who died on duty spoke with emotion and humour recalling their loved one.

 

The Roll of Honour for the police officers and who have died on duty during the past 12 months was read out.

 

Those remembered this year were Acting Sgt Reece Buckenham, of Hertfordshire Police; DC Karen Smith, of Humberside Police; PC Rosie Prior, of North Yorkshire Police; PC Michael Bruce, of the Metropolitan Police; and PC Ian Minett, of Gloucestershire Constabulary.

 

The Police Unity Tour arrived before the Service of Remembrance – more than 500 cyclists who had ridden from across the country to the Arboretum in memory of fallen officers.

 

The cyclists raise money for the COPS charity – and this year raised in excess of £230,000.

 

Dorset Police Federation Chair Chris Wood took part in the Police Unity Tour for the first time.

 

He said: “It is a massive event. Once a year, all survivors that COPS are in contact with are invited to come and enjoy the weekend. And we as riders, the Police unity Tour, is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for them. In Dorset we've managed just over £8,000, which is a massive achievement for a small force.

 

“It's really important to remember fallen officers because they've made the ultimate sacrifice for what we all do and take for granted for turning up every day.”

 

And Chris explained that he had a personal reason for wanting to be involved in the Unity Tour.

 

He said: “I was unfortunate to have been on duty when Gareth Browning from Thames Valley Police was critically injured. And my wife was on squad with him in Newbury as well.

 

“To be able to do something to remember him was massive. In Dorset we're really fortunate that we don't have that many officers on our Roll of Honour. It's just a massive thing for me, so I was really keen to get involved.

 

“To get more people just spreading the word about COPS is just massive.”

 

Also attending were the Blue Knights motorcyclists.