Honouring fallen officers

27 September 2018

West Midlands Police Federation’s chair and secretary, Rich Cooke and Steve Grange, will be among a congregation of around 2,000 people at this Sunday’s National Police Memorial Day service in Belfast.

The service honours police officers who have died or been killed in the line of duty and is held on the last Sunday of September each year rotating between England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

This year, to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, a wreath will also be laid in remembrance of police officers who died while serving in the armed forces during the 1914 – 1918 conflict.

Rich said: “The National Police Memorial Day service is an incredibly moving service and serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifice officers make in the line of duty. It brings home the risks all officers take every time they put on their uniform and serve their communities.”

During Sunday’s service which will be held in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, the names of officers who have died in the 12 months since last year’s memorial day will be read out including PC Steven Jenkins of Gwent Police, PC John Alcock of Grampian Police, PC James Dixon of Thames Valley Police and PC David Fields of South Yorkshire Police.

Candles will be lit by the relatives of fallen officers and a shower of remembrance petals will fall on the congregations at the end of the service.

A guard of honour with representatives of forces throughout the UK and overseas will welcome people on arrival at the service.