Branch secretary praises road traffic officers

2 December 2024

Branch secretary Helen Scholefield has paid tribute to the ‘professionalism’ of North Yorkshire Police Federation members who deal with road traffic collisions.

Helen represented the branch at an annual service last month, to remember people who have lost their lives on roads across the county.

The Oakleaf Service at Ripon Cathedral on Sunday 10 November was an opportunity for families and friends to come together in remembrance of their loved ones.

Helen said it was an emotional service.

She said: “There were a lot of families there, and they were invited to write on an oakleaf a message to their loved one.

“During the service, they were asked to leave the leaf and their message on the altar at the front.

“To see the emotions of people as they were laying their leaf and the effect on those family members was a really poignant and moving part of the service.

Emotion

“The emotion lasts with people a very long time.”

Helen was joined at the service by representatives from North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and UNISON as well as by Johanna Ropner, the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and the county’s mayors.

She said: “The service was so well attended.

“I hope it provides some comfort to the families to know that their loved ones aren’t forgotten and that they are not alone.”

The service also served to raise awareness and to promote safer driving on the county’s roads.

Helen said all too often Federation members see the devastating impact road traffic collisions can have on people, families, and communities.

Seriously injured

She said: “Road safety is a really important message because every day there are people dying or getting seriously injured on our roads.

“I’d like to thank my colleagues who go to these types of incidents every day.

“Police officers and staff live with the trauma of seeing some horrific incidents, and then turning whole family’s lives upside down when they have to knock on the door and tell them that a loved one has died or been seriously injured.

“They may have attended a really traumatic incident but they act with complete professionalism to do their job, and it’s only right that on behalf of the Federation I show my appreciation to all of my colleagues who are doing their absolute best to keep our county’s roads safe.”