Coventry Cathedral hosts National Police Memorial Day service
30 September 2025
The event gave the Force the chance to shine, with sunny weather adding to the warmth of the day itself.
“It was an honour to represent West Midlands Police Federation and our members at the memorial day,” says Jess Davies, branch chair.
“It was the first time I had attended this service so for it to be hosted within our Force area just made it particularly special. When you often hear so much negativity around policing in the media, it was uplifting to be at an event such as this where I felt proud to be a police officer and to witness first hand all the very best values of the police service.
“Sadly, due to the nature of our work, there are incidents in which officers lose their lives as they go about their duties, serving and protecting the public. They make the ultimate sacrifice and it is right and fitting that we come together as a police service to honour their lives and to show their families that they are not forgotten.”
Fallen officers
A key part of the service itself is the lighting of four candles, one for each of the UK’s four nations and their respective fallen officers.
This year, Kelly Swindells and one-year-old Mabel, the daughter and granddaughter of West Midlands DC Michael Swindells QPM, 44, who died on 21 May 2004 when he was stabbed by a suspect he had been pursuing, lit the candle representing England.
Mabel was born on the 20th anniversary of Michael’s death, making her an extra special gift for the family.
Reflecting on her father, Kelly remembers him as ‘the most kind-hearted’ man I think anybody would ever meet. He had the most serious face but he was just so, so funny.”
Kelly recognises the importance of National Police Memorial Day and the sacrifice made by police officers, adding: “To be part of a family, as such, like that – it’s a very difficult one, but it’s also everybody coming together to remember just how hard these police officers work and what they do for our country.”
The other three candles were lit as follows:
Representing Northern Ireland, Peter Olphert, son of RC John Robinson Olphert RUC who died on 18 January 1983, aged 39, when he was shot by terrorist gunmen while off duty.
Representing Wales, Lowri MacArthur, a serving Gwent officer, remembering her father PC Terry Davies who was 34 when he died on 23 August 1990 after been struck by a stolen car that failed to stop.
Representing Scotland, Linsey Dempsey, a serving Police Scotland officer, remembering her father PC Stuart Simpson of Strathclyde Police who died on 28 March 1994, aged 26, when his police car was involved in a head-on crash with a car going the wrong way on a motorway.
During the service, Tiff Lynch, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, read out the names of seven officers who had lost their lives during the past year:
PC Ian Minett, 38, of Gloucestershire Constabulary
PC Michael Bruce, 48, of the Metropolitan Police
PC Frank Hawkins, 52, of the Metropolitan Police
PC Marcus Bennett, 44, of the Civic Nuclear Constabulary
PC Rosie Prior, 45, of North Yorkshire Police
DC Karen Smith, 49, of Humberside Police, and
PC Faizaan Najeeb, 24, of Northamptonshire Police, who died just two days before the service.
Congregation
The Dean of Coventry, The Very Reverend John Wit, and the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Rachel Lancaster, welcomed the congregation to the service which included music from the West Midlands Police Band, The Big Sing Community Choir and the Choir of Coventry Cathedral.
The bidding and opening prayers were led by Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE, associate chaplain of the Jewish Police Association; Imam Mohammad Asad MBE, the West Midlands Police chaplain, and Ashna Tumber, secretary of the National Sikh Police Association.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who is also a West Midlands MP, gave a Bible reading from The Beatitudes, Mathew 5: 1 – 12 while the shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, read from the Colossians 3: 12 – 17.
The service, which was also attended by police minister Sarah Jones, included an address from the Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, the Bishop of Coventry.
In the midst of the service, Elizabeth Emblems were presented to the families of five police officers: PC Royston Jerred of Sussex Police, Sergeant Noel Lane of the Metropolitan Police, PC Mark Peers of the Metropolitan Police, PC Ian Rodgers of Greater Manchester Police and PC Dennis Smith QPM of Devon and Cornwall Police.
The emblem will be presented to the family of PC Andrew Le Comte of West Midlands Police at a later date as his family were unable to attend the memorial day.
Public service
The Government announced the introduction of the Elizabeth Emblem, named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, in March last year. The emblem is in recognition of those who lost their lives while undertaking eligible public service, including police officers listed on the roll of honour.
The service continued with prayers. A prayer for those who mourn was read by Daniel Rodgers, son of PC Ian Rodgers of Greater Manchester Police who died on 3 April 1975, eight days after being injured when he was struck by a train as he and another colleague searched the track. Daniel emigrated to Australia in 1998 and joined his mother, Pauline, at the service to mark the 50thanniversary of Ian’s death.
A prayer for unity and hope was read by Gwent Police Federation workplace representative Inspector Jamie Jones. Jamie, who works mainly in response, delivered the prayer in memory of Gwent colleagues PC Steven Jenkins, aged 43, who died on 6 October 2017 after becoming suddenly unwell at Pillgwenily Police Station; PC Leighton Yhnell who was 51 when he died suddenly at home on 16 February 2018 and PC Rhys Kelleher, 28, who died on 21 August 2019 after a year-long battle with cancer.
Kelly Swindells and one-year-old Mabel (Anderson Photography)
Former Royal Ulster Constabulary and Police Service of Northern Ireland officer Yvonne Davidson read a prayer for light in darkness while Iyona Shaar, an active member of the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers, read a prayer for peace and leaders.
Towards the end of the service, the peace bell was sounded and, during a period of silence, petals of remembrance, representing fallen officers, fell from the gallery. The Last Post was then sounded and, after a short silence, Reveille followed.
After a closing blessing, the service ended with the congregation, which had filled the cathedral, singing the National Anthem.
More than 5,000 police officers have died on duty in the past 180 years but the National Police Memorial Day itself was only initiated in May 2001 by now retired Kent Inspector Joe Holness OBE QPM following the death of his colleague PC Jon Odell in Margate in December the previous year.
The first National Police Memorial Day service was held at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on Sunday 3 October 2004 and since then the services, which rotate around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each year, are held on the nearest Sunday to St Michael’s Day (29 September) as St Michael is the patron saint of police officers.
National Police Memorial Day 2026 will be held at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Sunday 27 September.
Families
The families of around 20 fallen West Midlands Police officers attended a morning reception hosted by West Midlands Police Federation ahead of the National Police Memorial Day service.
The reception was held in the restaurant at Coventry’s University’s Technology Park in Puma Way, Coventry and included a buffet breakfast.
The Federation was represented by branch chair, Jess Davies, secretary Tim Rogers, deputy chair Matt Minton, deputy secretary Chris James and regional representative Aaron Bell while the Chief Constable Craig Guildford also attended.
The Chief addressed those gathered and thanked the Federation for organising the reception which he said gave families an opportunity to come together.
Chris James said afterwards: “We were very keen, when we were informed the memorial day was coming to Coventry, to give our fallen officers’ families the chance to meet up ahead of the actual service.
“We chose a venue where it would be easy for them to park and then walk to the service. All too often, with the service rotating around the four corners of the UK, it can be difficult for the families to meet up due to the logistics of getting to the events and then finding each other.”
The West Midlands Police Federation welfare van was also deployed to the memorial day to provide light refreshments for officers policing the event. The van was driven by workplace Federation representative Scott Davies, husband of branch chair Jess, while their son, Oskar, 12, also helped hand out snacks and drinks.
READ MORE: 'Let the Federation help you' - new rep outlines commitment to members.
