Online memorial will ensure fallen police never forgotten
11 May 2023
The service and sacrifice of police officers who were killed on duty will be permanently recorded in digital form for future generations.
The UK Police Memorial is creating a ‘world first’ digital remembrance portal that will hold details of the 4,500 police officers and staff who have given their lives to policing across the UK, including in many cases photos.
The public will be able to leave tributes and family and colleagues could also contribute video testimony to help ensure that the memory of each officer lives on.
The project was officially launched at the Tower of London in March and is drawing on the results of 200,000 responses to a public consultation to help shape the offer.
The Police Roll of Honour Trust is underpinning the website using its database.
Other partners include the College of Policing, Staffordshire University, Accenture and the National Memorial Arboretum.
West Midlands Police Federation treasurer Daz Neville said: “The police family always remembers those colleagues who gave their lives while on duty and their sacrifices are commemorated at the UK Police Memorial. They will never be forgotten.
“This digital memorial will provide a way for the family, friends and colleagues of fallen officers to record their tributes and for these to be available to audiences here and internationally.
“It will create a very special lasting legacy to the brave women and men who have paid the ultimate price through their determination to protect the lives and freedoms of the communities they served.”
The most popular features identified by the survey included the life stories of the fallen, with photographs, oral histories, video tributes and media coverage and the ability to pay tribute to family members, friends and colleagues.
A spokesperson said: “The digital remembrance programme will tell the personal stories of the people behind the badge who have been killed whilst policing our communities, keeping us safe and defending our freedoms. It will celebrate lives lived. It will remember lives lost.”
