Branch chair attends national Ceremony of Remembrance marking five years of UK Police Memorial

31 July 2026

Branch chair Sam Dobbs represented the Federation at the National Memorial Arboretum as the policing family came together to honour officers and members of police staff from across the UK who have died in the line of duty.

The annual Ceremony of Remembrance took place exactly five years after the UK Police Memorial was dedicated at the Arboretum by His Majesty The King, then HRH The Prince of Wales, in 2021.

Since its dedication, the Memorial has welcomed almost two million visitors and has become the nation's permanent place of remembrance for policing, where families, colleagues and members of the public gather to remember, pay their respects and honour the courage, service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the service of others.

 

The National Memorial Arboretum (pic courtesy of West Midlands Police)

 

Hundreds of family members, senior policing leaders, government representatives, partners and supporters attended this year's ceremony, which began with a flypast by the National Police Air Service (NPAS).

The service also featured readings, musical performances by the British Police Symphony Orchestra, the laying of wreaths, a procession of standards representing every police force across the UK, and a minute's silence in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

A message from His Majesty The King was read by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Graham Morley, paying tribute to those whose courage and selfless service continue to inspire the nation.

Ceremony

One of the ceremony's most poignant moments came with the reading of A Bird, the winning poem from the National Memorial Arboretum's poetry competition, by its author, 15-year-old Holly. The competition invited young people from Staffordshire schools to reflect on the sacrifice of fallen officers and police staff, highlighting how remembrance continues to inspire future generations.

Reflecting on the ceremony, Sam said it was a fitting tribute to officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

 

 

"From start to finish, it was a well-run and respectful occasion. The ceremony brought together a number of different elements, all of which gave people the opportunity to remember our fallen colleagues," he said.

"As always, policing came together to pay its respects, and it was an honour to attend on behalf of the Federation.

"The readings were particularly powerful, especially those from people outside policing. Having members of the public take part is important because it shows that the sacrifices made by officers are recognised and remembered beyond the policing family."

Sam continued: "The UK Police Memorial has now been open for five years and has become the profession's permanent place of remembrance. It's a special place that reflects the service and sacrifice of those we've lost, and I'd encourage anyone visiting the National Memorial Arboretum to take the time to see it.

Memorial

"The memorial's striking design, with its door left slightly ajar, is especially powerful. It symbolises the uncertainty that officers face every time they answer a call, never knowing what lies beyond the next door they open or what challenges await them. It's a simple but deeply moving reminder of the risks our colleagues take when they go out on a job.

To coincide with the Ceremony of Remembrance, the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust launched a new Digital Tribute Wall, enabling families, friends and colleagues to leave lasting messages of remembrance linked directly to an individual's citation on the Police Roll of Honour.

The Tribute Wall forms part of a new Digital Memorial, bringing together the work of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust and the Police Remembrance Trust to create a single online place where visitors can remember those who gave their lives in service, explore the work of both charities, view the Police Roll of Honour and discover the stories behind the names.

READ MORE: Fed chair proud of Bravery Awards winners.