Northamptonshire Police’s Faizaan Najeeb remembered at National Police Memorial Day

29 September 2026

Northamptonshire Police Constable Faizaan Najeeb was among those remembered at the 23rd annual National Police Memorial Day service on Sunday (27 September).

Faizaan, who died on 26 September 2025, was one of eight officers who have died in the last 12 months honoured at the event, which was held at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

His brother and sister travelled to Belfast to represent the family and take part in the commemorations, marking an emotional milestone for those who knew and worked alongside him.

Thousands of people from across the UK attended the service, including Federation representatives, Chief Constables, religious leaders, politicians and families.

Chair of Northamptonshire Police Federation Sam Dobbs and secretary Charlotte Pateman represented the branch, alongside Deputy Chief Constable Ash Tuckley.

Sam Dobbs said it was an opportunity for the police service and the wider community to come together to commemorate and mourn officers who had lost their lives in the execution of their duty.

“For Northamptonshire, this year’s service carries particular poignancy, coming just one day after the first anniversary of PC Faizaan’s death,” said Sam.

He explained that, as with any bereavement, there were many different layers of grief - from the loss felt by Faizaan’s family to the impact on his friends, colleagues and wider police family.

One year on

The first anniversary was marked in Northamptonshire, with a small commemoration led by the duty superintendent and attended by members of Faizaan’s former team.

“Lots of things have happened in the year since, but of course, for the family and for his closest friends, time has stood still,” Sam said.

“And I’d say today, whilst poignant, and whilst it’s something to honour him, the pain of today for those that are closest to him is lost on no one.”

The service opened with a processional march, which included flag bearers from a number of forces across England and Wales. This was followed by music from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

A moving service

National Police Chaplain, The Reverend Matt Hopley, opened the service before Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle DBE DStJ, Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast, welcomed the congregation.

A reading was shared by the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, as well as Lady Ruth Hamilton, Patron of the RUC GC Widows’ Association.

Songs were sung by both the Police Service of Northern Ireland Male Voice Choir and the Police Service of Northern Ireland Ladies Choir. 

Police hats representing the service from Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales were taken to the front and then laid beside candles. Relatives representing each of the four nations then lit a candle.

Remembering fallen colleagues

Lighting the candle for Northern Ireland this year was Jackie Gorman, mother of Police Constable Kevin Declan Gorman, who died on 23 November 2008 at the age of 24, alongside three colleagues, while responding to a call for assistance when their police vehicle lost control and struck a wall.

Lighting the candle for Wales was Dorothy Ellis, mother of Police Constable Adrian Bryn Ellis, who died on 27 September 1989, aged 29, of Gwent Constabulary. Adrian was killed in a motorcycle accident while travelling to report for duty.

Lighting the candle for Scotland was Christine Fulton MBE, wife of Police Constable Lewis George Fulton, who died 17 June 1994, aged 28, of Strathclyde Police. He was stabbed during a violent struggle as he took action to protect members of the public. 

Lighting the candle for England was Chris Prior, husband of Police Constable Rosie Prior, who died 11th January 2025 at the age of 45. The North Yorkshire Police Officer died when she was struck by a lorry while assisting at the scene of a collision.

The congregation stood during The Last Post as petals fell in remembrance of lives lost. Lights dimmed, with the congregation holding flameless candles and a spotlight on the Book of Remembrance, which contains the names of all officers who have died on duty. There was also be a spotlight on a lone Piper.

The congregation held blue and green flameless candles and eight red flameless candles were placed on the altar table, in tribute to the eight officers who have died on duty in the last 12 months:

• Police Constable Matthew Blades, Cleveland Police, aged 37 years
• Police Constable Tom Clough, Cleveland Police, aged 38 years
• Police Constable Alice Slominska, Bedfordshire Police, aged 19 years
• Police Constable Jess Turnbull, Northumbria Police, aged 19 years
• Police Constable Mark Chester, Ministry of Defence Police, aged 35 years
• Police Constable Mathew Parker, Essex Police, aged 43 years
• Police Constable Bradley Corke, Kent Police, aged 27 years
• Police Constable Faizaan Najeeb, Northamptonshire Police, aged 24 years

Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Chief Constable Jon Boutcher QPM concluded the service with the Act of Commitment before the Benediction and National Anthem.

A digital tribute wall is available online for people to honour their loved ones.

Next year’s National Police Memorial Day will be held in Wales on Sunday 26 September 2027. Venue to be confirmed.

READ MORE: A lasting tribute to PC Faizaan Najeeb presented to his family