Remembering fallen officers - National Police Memorial Day 2024

1 October 2024

Thousands of police officers who have died on duty have been honoured at the 21st annual National Police Memorial Day.

Members of the police family gathered at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on Sunday 29 September, to honour almost 5,000 officers who have lost their lives on duty.

The names of those officers who had died in the past year were read out. They are Sgt Graham Saville, of Nottinghamshire Police; Sgt Paul Frear, of West Midlands Police; PC Jack Cummings, of West Yorkshire Police; and Acting Sgt Reece Buckenham, of Hertfordshire Constabulary.

Laura Heggie, Chair of Essex Police Federation, said: “We’re here today to remember those people that have made the ultimate sacrifice and didn’t go home at the end of their shift, and it’s really important.

“We’ve got five families with us, and we’re remembering Bill Bishop, Joanne Jennings, Rod Daniels, Gary Veal and Mark Estall. This year’s really important. All years are important, but this year in particular because it’s the 40th anniversary since Bill Bishop died.

“We come to represent Essex, and we come to represent all the officers that we’ve lost over the many years, because that’s just a short list of those officers and there’s far more that deserve the respect and remembrance today.”

She added: “National Police Memorial Day is extremely important. People come to work and they run towards danger. We don’t know when that’s going to happen, we don’t know what we’re going to face. But when it does happen, sadly, on occasions, we lose officers. It’s for those officers that it’s really important that we come, to show them and their families that we wilk remember them.”

During the service, candles were lit for officers in each of the four nations. Lighting the candle for Scotland were Margaret Collins and Helen Cruddis, mother and sister of PC Anthony (Tony) Collins, of Police Scotland, who died on 29 November 2013 aged 43 when a police helicopter crashed into the roof of the Clutha bar in Glasgow.

Lighting the candle for England was Luke Ratana, son of Police Sergeant Matiu (Matt) Ratana, of the Metropolitan Police, who died on 25 September 2020 aged 54 after being fatally shot in Croydon Custody Centre.

Lighting the candle for Northern Ireland was Jill Davidson, wife of Detective Superintendent Philip Davidson, of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, who died on 2 June 1994 aged when the RAF Chinook helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre.

Lighting the candle for Wales were Rob Jones and Chris Milne-Jones, brother and sister of PC Ralph Jones, of North Wales Police, who died on 13 July 1999 aged 34 as a result of a road traffic incident while on a training course.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who gave a reading during the service, said: “Today, we mourn and remember all the officers who have given their lives in service to the public.

“We thank them and pay tribute to their bravery, their dedication and their sacrifice. We stand with their families who continue to live with the pain of losing their loved one and the pride for their incredible work to keep us safe.

“Policing is an extraordinary job - our officers run towards danger as others retreat.

“We owe these officers a debt that can never be forgotten.”

First Minister John Swinney said: “On behalf of everyone in Scotland, I would like to take this opportunity to tell the officers and staff of Police Scotland how much we appreciate their bravery. I pledge we will not forget those who have lost their lives serving our communities."

During the service, a tribute was also paid to all those who lost their lives in air disasters, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre. A wreath was laid in their memory.

There was silence as petals of remembrance, representing all who have lost their lives, descended from the gallery as the Last Post was sounded.