Digital memorial will record tributes to fallen officers

19 October 2022

Nottinghamshire Police Federation is backing plans for a digital memorial website to complement the UK Police Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Chair Simon Riley is supporting the website which would carry the names of former officers as well as tributes from loved ones, photographs, and news clippings.

He is also calling on colleagues to take part in an online consultation from the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust which will help shape the future of the project.

Simon explained: “The physical memorial at the arboretum attracts thousands of visitors per year. Having a digital memorial as well just makes it is more accessible to a wider audience nationally and internationally.”

He added: “Every day brave police officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public. If the worst should happen it is devastating for their family and friends and for the whole police family. We owe it to those officers to ensure they are not forgotten, so I would urge colleagues to support this initiative.”

The then Home Secretary, Priti Patel, pays her respects during a service to mark the first anniversary of the unveiling of the UK Police Memorial this summer. Photos courtesy of Anderson Photography.

The trust wants to ensure that the digital memorial is a fitting tribute and is seeking the views and opinions of members of police officers to help shape it. It has created an online survey which takes less than 10 minutes to complete, to capture your feedback.

Martin Hewitt, the former chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council and now chair of Police Arboretum Memorial Trustees, said: “Working with our partner, the Police Roll of Honour Trust, the digital memorial will give visitors access to the records of almost 5,000 police officers who have dedicated their lives to policing, from as far back as the Bow Street Runners in 1749.

“We are at a crossroads as we embark on the next phase of this exciting project and our development of the digital memorial. Your views really do count as we create a fitting online tribute to our police service, and I would encourage everyone to complete the online survey.”

Take part in the online survey.