Sussex Federation Attend 'Touching' COPS Remembrance Service

4 August 2025

There was emotion as police officers who have died on duty were remembered by their family and friends at the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Annual Service of Remembrance.

Surviving family members and serving police officers gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday 3 August to pay their respects to officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

More than 1,000 people attended the service in Staffordshire – where the rain thankfully held off.

Events took place all weekend for surviving family members.

Sussex Police Federation Chair Raffaele Cioffi said the event illustrated the importance of remembering fallen colleagues.

He said: “The weekend is in remembrance of our colleagues who have died on duty and to raise money to allow the Care Of Police Survivors to continue providing support for those individuals that have left families behind and made the ultimate sacrifice.

“We heard some very touching testimony. It just illustrates the importance of why we must remember our fallen colleagues, not only them but also their families. We must never forget. They made the ultimate sacrifice for us and now it's time for us to give them that small gesture of remembrance once, each and every single year.”

During the one-hour service on Sunday, survivors recalled their loss and how the charity had helped them in their time of need.

Two daughters of fallen police officers and a sister of a colleague who died on duty spoke with emotion and humour recalling their loved one.

The Roll of Honour for the police officers and who have died on duty during the past 12 months was read out.

Those remembered this year were Acting Sgt Reece Buckenham, of Hertfordshire Police; DC Karen Smith, of Humberside Police; PC Rosie Prior, of North Yorkshire Police; PC Michael Bruce, of the Metropolitan Police; and PC Ian Minett, of Gloucestershire Constabulary.

The Police Unity Tour arrived before the Service of Remembrance – more than 500 cyclists who had ridden from across the country to the Arboretum in memory of fallen officers.

The cyclists raise money for the COPS charity – and this year raised in excess of £230,000.

Raffaele also took part in the Unity Tour for the second year. He said: “It was a tough few days but as I was riding and it became difficult I looked down at my wristband. I was riding for Neil Booth, who died in 1987, the year I was born, and it made my ride that little bit easier because I knew that actually there was a reason why I put myself through this amount of suffering.

“Hopefully Neil's family are in contact with Care Of Police Survivors, and they're getting the support they need and I can continue adding value to that.

“I am not a cyclist whatsoever, I decided to raise money and show that actually we should continue to remember our fallen colleagues. Unfortunately we've had a lot of suffering within our force and I feel it’s very important for us to get involved.

“It brings it together that you are actually a family and as much as we frequently forget and moan about things, that when you are part of the police you are part of a family and your family always wants the best for you.

“And you can see here today, all these people here have taken their own time out of policing, taken their annual leave, spent time and money in raising money for a charity that takes care of the survivors of fallen police officers.

“It makes it really clear that actually you are part of one unit and it’s called the Unity Tour for a reason, that we are in it together and that's why I will be here and make sure that we've raised money so this can continue.”

Also attending were the Blue Knights motorcyclists.