Police Unity Tour set to get underway
31 July 2025
Cyclists representing police forces from across England and Wales will descend on the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Sunday ahead of the annual Care of Police Survivors (COPS) service of remembrance.
The cyclists, who will include riders from West Midlands Police, will be part of the Police Unity Tour, an annual three-day, 180-mile trip to raise awareness of fallen officers and raise funds for COPS, the charity dedicated to supporting their families.
The tour starts on Friday morning, with those taking part leaving from their own force areas and then meeting at Drayton Manor on Saturday evening so they can all ride into the arboretum together on the Sunday morning.
Jess Davies, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, said: “I want to put on record my thanks to all the cyclists taking part in this event and for their efforts to support the work of COPS.
“I am sure there will be some tough moments for the riders as they make their journey from the Force area to their destination in Alrewas and it will be emotional for them as they ride into the arboretum to be greeted by the families they will be helping.”
Each cyclist on the PUT tour wears a wristband inscribed with the name of a fallen officer. At the end of the ride, the wristband is presented to the families of these officers.
Once the cyclists arrive at the arboretum, the service of remembrance gets underway. It includes speeches from the family members of fallen officers who talk movingly about the death of their loved one and explain how they have tried to rebuild their lives and the support provided by COPS.
Roll of honour
Wreaths are laid by various bodies associated with policing and a roll of honour listing the officers to have died in the 12 months since the last service is read out.
After the service, families and guests make their way to The Beat, an avenue of trees dedicated to individual forces and officers to lay wreaths and single red roses.
COPS cares for survivor relatives in a variety of ways, including by bringing them together with other grieving families through peer support opportunities and by offering access to counselling and specialist bereavement services.
The PUT has been held for each of the last 13 years in support of COPS. It first started in 1997 as a low-key fundraiser and has now turned into a major event, seemingly attracting more riders each year.
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