PC Faizaan Najeeb honoured at National Police Memorial Day

1 October 2025

PC Faizaan Najeeb was among those remembered at this year’s National Police Memorial Day.

The name of the 24-year-old Northamptonshire Police Officer, who sadly died just two days before the event (on Friday 26 September), was read out at the annual service.

Branch chair Sam Dobbs and Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet attended the event, which took place at Coventry Cathedral, on Sunday (28 September).

Speaking ahead of the service, Sam said it was a ‘solemn day’, adding: “This is a chance for us to remember our colleagues who have died in the course of duty.

“Of course, for the Chief Constable and all of us in Northamptonshire Police, it was particularly poignant having only learned of the death of our colleague, Fuzz, on Friday.”

Emotional

The last time a Northamptonshire police officer was killed as a result of the job was in 1991, which Sam said made the event more ‘emotional’.

He said: “It’s emotional and poigniant as we remember with immediacy an officer who has died at work. Which is every family, every police officer and every Chief Constable’s worst nightmare.

“It meant a great deal to be able to tell his family after the service that he had been remembered at such a poignant event.”

Ivan, who was attending as Chief Constable of Northamptonshire for the first time, said he was ‘honoured’ to be representing the Force at such an event.

He said: “This is a chance to remember those who died serving the public, most recently Fuzz.

Safe

“Fuzz was a wonderful person and a wonderful police officer, who would do what he could to keep the community safe.

“He was just 24 years old. This reminds us what police officers do every day on the front line to protect the public.”

Ivan ended: “We know policing gets a lot of criticism. And while that’s sometimes justified, today is all about remembering that sacrifice and that service of all police officers, today, Faz especially.

The event was attended by hundreds of others, including politicians, religious leaders, officers and loved ones, as well as other Federation representatives.

Among them was Margaret Keany, the mother of Northamptonshire Police’s Sergeant Paul Keany, who died in March 2020, while on duty from a heart attack.

 

Branch chair Sam Dobbs, Margaret Keany, the mother of Northamptonshire
Police’s Sergeant Paul Keany and Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet

 

Margaret, who attended the service alongside Sam and Ivan, said it was nice to know that her son continues to be remembered by the police.

“People say they will always remember Paul, but being invited to events like the memorial service shows it,” she added.

“It’s an extremely poignant day, full of emotion, for all those attending.”

During the service, Tiff Lynch, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) read out the names of seven officers who had lost their lives during the past year:

PC Faizaan Najeeb, 24, of Northamptonshire Police

PC Ian Minett, 38, of Gloucestershire Constabulary

PC Michael Bruce, 48, of the Metropolitan Police

PC Frank Hawkins, 52, of the Metropolitan Police

PC Marcus Bennett, 44, of the Civic Nuclear Constabulary

PC Rosie Prior, 45, of North Yorkshire Police

DC Karen Smith, 49, of Humberside Police, and

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp gave Bible readings.

The service, which was also attended by police minister Sarah Jones, included an address from the Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, the Bishop of Coventry.

Prayers

The Dean of Coventry, The Very Reverend John Wit, and the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Rachel Lancaster, had welcomed the congregation to the service which included music from the West Midlands Police Band, The Big Sing Community Choir and the Choir of Coventry Cathedral.

The bidding and opening prayers were led by Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE, associate chaplain of the Jewish Police Association; Imam Mohammad Asad MBE, the West Midlands Police chaplain, and Ashna Tumber, secretary of the National Sikh Police Association

During an act of remembrance, candles were lit, one for each of the nations of the UK: 

• Representing England, Kelly Swindells and one-year-old Mabel, the daughter and granddaughter of West Midlands DC Michael Swindells QGM who died on 21 May 2004, aged 44, when he was stabbed by an armed suspect he was pursuing.

• Representing Northern Ireland, Peter Olphert, son of RC John Robinson Olphert RUC who died on 18 January 1983, aged 39, when he was shot by terrorist gunmen while off duty.

• Representing Wales, PC Lowri MacArthur, a serving Gwent officer, remembering her father PC Terry Davies who was 34 when he died on 23 August 1990 after been struck by a stolen car that failed to stop.

• Representing Scotland, Linsey Dempsey, a serving Police Scotland officer, remembering her father PC Stuart Simpson of Strathclyde Police who died on 28 March 1994, aged 26, when his police car was involved in a head-on crash with a car going the wrong way on a motorway.

Towards the end of the service, the peace bell was sounded and, during a period of silence, petals of remembrance, representing fallen officers, fell from the gallery. The Last Post was then sounded and, after a short silence, Reveille.

Following a closing blessing, the service ended with the congregation, which had filled the cathedral, singing the National Anthem.

National Police Memorial Day 2026 will be held at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Sunday 27 September.

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