NPMD: key event in the policing year

23 September 2022

Gwent Police Federation chair Matthew Candy says the National Police Memorial Day is one of the key events on the policing calendar.

Matthew said it was a chance for the policing family to come together to pay respects to colleagues who have been killed in the line of duty.

This year’s service takes place at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast at 2pm on Sunday (25 September). The impact of the pandemic means it will be the first time in two years everyone will be able to attend in person to pay their respects.

Secretary Dean Lanfear, deputy chair Chris Back and Board member Jitka Tomkova-Griffiths will represent the Gwent Police Federation branch at the service.

The memorial day includes a tribute wall for people to add their own messages for fallen officers.

Matthew said: “The National Police Memorial Day is always an important date in the policing calendar.

“It brings the policing family together to pay our respects to those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and also to support their family, friends and colleagues.”

National Police Memorial Day was first held in 2004 and has been held at the end of September each year since. It rotates around England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It provides a dignified and sensitive service of remembrance to honour the courage and ultimate sacrifice of police officers of the almost 4,000 police officers who have been killed on duty.

Federation representatives, chief officers and the Home Secretary usually join the families of fallen officers at the service.