Team prepares to set off for Police Unity Tour

5 August 2026

The Police Unity Tour gets underway this week, with officers, staff and volunteers from across the country coming together to honour fallen colleagues and support the families they leave behind.

Representing the North East Chapter of the UK Police Unity Tour will be its largest-ever number of participants, with cyclists, support crews and motorcycle escorts taking part in the three-day ride to honour the memory of fallen officers.

The event also raises money for Care of Police Survivors (COPS), a charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have lost their lives on duty.

Among those joining the team is the secretary of Durham Police Federation Phil Stephenson, who will be supporting the tour for the fifth year.

 

The Durham Police Unity Tour team

 

Alongside fellow support driver, retired Inspector Lee Morris, Phil will help ensure riders safely complete every mile of the journey.

"We drive right behind the cyclists throughout the route," Phil explained. "If there's a breakdown, someone needs water or food, or they're tired or injured, we're there. We make sure everyone is looked after."

While the cyclists are at the heart of the event, Phil says the support team is with them every step of the way.

"Everyone is part of one big team," he said. "Whether you're riding, driving or supporting, we're all involved from start to finish. Everyone has a role, and everyone looks after each other."

Riders

Riders from Durham Police will join colleagues from North Yorkshire, Northumbria, Humberside and Cleveland Police.

“For members of the North East Chapter of the UK Police Unity Tour, this year's ride will carry added significance as colleagues come together in memory of Northumbria Police Officer Jess Turnbull,” said Phil.

“It'll be incredibly poignant riding alongside colleagues from our neighbouring Force, Northumbria. Jess was one of our own, and to be able to honour her memory as part of the Police Unity Tour means a great deal to everyone taking part."

Tomorrow (Thursday 6 August) will see participants cover an additional 100 miles from Cleveland Police Headquarters to Hull, to ensure the tour passes through every force area.

On Friday, they will travel 100 miles to Worksop, before covering a further 80 miles to Tamworth on Saturday.

On Saturday, hundreds of participants from across the country meet at Drayton Manor, where the families and loved ones of fallen officers gather for the annual COPS Survivors’ Weekend.

The event ends on Sunday at the COPS Annual Service of Remembrance, which takes place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Survivors

Reflecting on recent years, Phil says one of the most inspiring aspects of the weekend has been seeing survivors ride alongside the tour.

"Watching survivors get on their bikes and ride with us has been fantastic," he said. "Seeing families carrying the memory of their loved ones is incredibly moving."

"It really is a weekend full of emotion. You remember what happened to those officers, not just from our region but from across the country. It could happen to any one of us, and that's why it's so important that we remember them while raising money for such an important cause.

"Saturday is incredibly emotional. Then on Sunday, there are people who are relieved, people who are upset, people congratulating each other. It's something you never forget."

Each participant also wears a memorial bracelet bearing the name of a fallen officer throughout the tour - a poignant reminder of the person they are riding in honour of.

Phil believes one of the strengths of the Police Unity Tour is the opportunity it gives survivors to connect with one another.

"COPS is so unique because it's run by survivors,” he added. “They understand exactly what it's like to lose someone, and the bonds between those families are incredible.

Police Family

"It's so important that they know they're still part of the police family."

The weekend also brings together officers, police staff and chief officers from across the service, with rank left behind in favour of friendship and shared purpose.

"You meet people you'd probably never come across in your day job," Phil continued. "You spend time talking about life rather than work. Although there’s a serious meaning behind the weekend, it's informal, friendly, and everyone is there for the same reason."

While the event involves early mornings and long days, Phil says any tiredness is insignificant compared to the sacrifices made by the families the tour supports.

He said: "By the end of the weekend we're tired, but that's nothing compared to what some of these loved ones have been through.

"It's a serious cause, but it's also an opportunity to give something back. We deal with difficult situations every day in policing, so it's nice to come together with different people and support such an important cause.”

You can support the Durham team via the Police Unity Tour JustGiving page.

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