West Mercia team gearing up for this year's Police Unity Tour
6 August 2026
The annual Police Unity Tour (PUT) is fast approaching, and this year West Mercia Police participants will lead a four-force team on the weekend-long ride in memory of fallen officers.
Now in its 14th edition in the UK, the 2026 PUT will start on tomorrow (Friday 7 August), with cyclists from across the country gearing up to end the ride on Sunday (9 August) at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
As well as honouring fallen colleagues, the ride will also raise money and awareness for the Care of Police Survivors (COPS), a charity which supports the families of these late officers.
As part of the West Midlands chapter, alongside colleagues from Staffordshire and Warwickshire, West Mercia riders have taken on responsibility for organising this year’s route, accommodation, tributes, fundraising and more.
Last year's riders as part of the West Midlands chapter
There will be four West Mercia riders in total, including Federation member PC Jamie Guest, who will be taking part in his fourth Police Unity Tour.
And, after missing last year’s edition recovering from surgery, he says he is raring to get back in the saddle for such an important cause.
“Of course, I have always known the value of remembering the officers who have lost their lives in this job, but being involved with the PUT has given me an even deeper understanding of what it means to honour them,” said the 37-year-old.
As with tradition, each rider will wear a wristband engraved with the name of a fallen officer.
Never forgotten
“In my previous three entries, I have ridden for West Midlands Police’s DC Robert Ling, and when I met his parents, I could see how much it meant to them,” continued Jamie, adding: “This year, I will ride for PC Robert Owen of Staffordshire Police, who died in a road traffic collision in 1985.
“The sudden nature of many on-duty deaths makes you realise it could be any one of us going to work and then never coming back home. I remember seeing PC Andy Boardman from our force about a week before he died in 2023, which was tragically sad.
“Together, we’ll make sure these officers and many more are never forgotten.”
Jamie heaped praise on Force staff member Jon Strelitz, who is leading this year’s team.
Jamie added: “We have a new route this year and it is looking good, so credit must go to Jon for his meticulous planning.”
Logistics
Jon said he is honoured to be leading the challenge, although he admitted it has come with its challenges.
“All the logistical planning will be worth it once we are out on the road,” said Jon, who will be taking part in the event for the third time.
He continued: “It is always such an incredible and important few days for our profession. It’s intense, both physically and emotionally, but those are the lengths we are willing to go to in memory of the colleagues we’ve lost.
“Including myself, there will be four West Mercia riders and 13 riders overall, plus a support crew of five for the weekend. We are all excited to get cycling together for such a crucial cause.”
Discussing the chapter’s 200-mile route for this year, Jon revealed one of his main aims was to cover all four force regions as he devised a suitable trail.
Journey
With this in mind, the team will embark on their journey from West Mercia Police headquarters in Hindlip, before passing through the West Midlands, then Warwickshire for an overnight stay in Kenilworth, and finally, Staffordshire as a natural conclusion to proceedings.
“We will spend the second night in Tamworth, after having done the traditional meet-up with the loved ones of fallen officers, at Drayton Manor theme park,” added Jon, who is set to ride in tribute to West Mercia’s PC Paul Symonds, who lost his life on duty in 1991.
“This part really hits home in terms of why we do the ride. In my first year, I rode for an officer who would’ve been the same age as me, and in my second year, I rode for an officer whose daughters were younger than mine.
“It all reminds you how important it is to honour these fallen colleagues, because their lives were suddenly taken away in an instant when they were just trying to do their job.”
West Mercia Police Federation has contributed to the team’s fundraising efforts, and you can too. Simply visit their JustGiving page.
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