Your views are needed to shape ‘digital police memorial’
19 October 2022
West Midlands Police Federation is backing an appeal by the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust to help it create an online memorial for fallen officers.
The trust, which is headed by the former Chief Constable Martin Hewitt, created the new UK Police Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire that was dedicated in July 2021 in the presence of King Charles III (then Prince of Wales).
Now, as part of the next stage of its work it aims to create a digital memorial to take the memorial to a national and international audience, it is seeking the feedback of West Midlands officers to help shape the website.
Federation chair Rich Cooke said: “The police family is justifiably proud of all our heroic colleagues who tragically lost their lives on duty and whose sacrifices are commemorated at the UK Police Memorial. They should never be forgotten.
“That’s why I am really excited by the idea of a digital memorial which can provide a way for friends, family, and colleagues of fallen officers to record their tributes and for these to be available to audiences here and internationally. I am urging our officers to back the project by taking a few minutes to complete their online survey to help shape the website.”
The then Home Secretary Priti Patel pays her respects at a service this summer to mark the first anniversary of the unveiling of the UK Police Memorial. Photo by Anderson Photography.
The digital memorial is being developed by the trust in partnership with the Police Roll of Honour. It will carry an ‘on this day’ tribute which highlights the names of officers who died on a particular day and allow users to search for an officer by name, force, date of death and rank.
Enhanced tributes will be developed that tell the personal stories of those behind the badge including interviews with family, friends and colleagues, access to news archives and personal photographs.
Chair of Trustees Mr Hewitt said: “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.
“However, we need the help of the service, and the public to help us develop the next stage. We want to hear from you about what you would like to see on the digital memorial and how you and visitors may wish to use it.”
