National Police Memorial Day 2024

1 October 2024

Over 1,000 family members, colleagues and supporters gathered at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to remember and honour the lives of more than 5,000 police officers who have fallen in service over the past 180 years.

National Police Memorial Day is one of the most important in the policing calendar as it gives all present an opportunity to stand in solidarity with those who have experienced immeasurable loss.

The Acting National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Tiff Lynch, summed up the spirit of the event, held on Sunday 29 September. She said: “We're here in Glasgow for National Police Memorial Day, where we have officers from all over the world that are here to join the families of our fallen heroes for a day of memorial, a day of recognition, and a day of absolute significance, where we can remember them and thank them for their service.”

This event is much more than just a moment of commemoration, it is a reminder of a global brotherhood and sisterhood that defines the policing profession. Tiff also told us: “This is the policing family, we come to our very best, it's a day where every single police officer will stand with the families to say, ‘thank you’. It is the convergence of police officers and families from across the globe that makes the day so important and unique.”

The day began with a police parade, where more than 40 force standards from around the UK marched from George Square to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The officers, including those from overseas, then formed a guard of honour, further symbolising the unity and shared purpose of law enforcement worldwide. In a moving tribute, Police Scotland arranged for a flyover, a fitting salute to the sacrifices made by the fallen officers.

The flyover held particular poignancy as one of the focuses for this year’s gathering was to remember those killed in air disasters, this being the anniversary year of the Chinook helicopter tragedy on the Mull of Kintyre. As such, a wreath was laid to commemorate lives lost in air disasters, many of which have happened on Scottish soil.

This year also saw the first use of a new Police Federation of England and Wales standard. The flag was carried and presented by PFEW National Board Member and Wellbeing and Safety Co-lead Richie Murray. He told us: “I’ve been a flag bearer at the NPMD for many years now. This year it’s been a great honour and a proud moment for me to carry the new standard on behalf of PFEW. This was truly an honour and a fitting tribute to all those officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.”

The service of remembrance was not just a reflection of loss but also of courage, commitment, and pride. Bryn Hughes’s daughter Nicola was murdered on duty in 2012 alongside her colleague PC Fiona Bone. They were responding to a hoax 999 call.

Bryn told us: "I’d say emotional-wise this is a proud, very proud, moment. I’m honoured to represent the memory of Nicola on this day." His words echoed the sentiments of many present standing alongside other families.

“Standing alongside others who have also experienced loss is just so comforting and supportive. We're all here for the same reason; we've all got very, similar stories so in that respect, I think we prop each other up,” Mr Hughes added.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also offered her reflections during the service, saying “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Her words highlighted the selflessness nature, inherent in the role of every police officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice.

Candles were lit to represent individuals and families from Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales and silence was kept in honour of the fallen.

The National Police Memorial Day service was established in 2004 and is held annually. Although its purpose is to remember officers who have lost their lives, it is also a timely reminder of the dangers of the job.

Sadly, each year some officers are injured, and some also sustain life-changing or career-ending injuries in the line of duty. With this in mind, the Police Federation of England and Wales is supporting the calls for the introduction of recognition for officers who have been forced to retire as a result of an injury.

National Board Member John Partington was also at the memorial day and he commented: “It’s very important we take time to remember those who have paid the ultimate price in service to their communities and we supported the campaign for formal State recognition as such. We are also happy to support the work of Tom Curry as he calls for recognition for those officers who are forced to retire through injury.”

You can read a more detailed feature and view photographs of this year's National Police Memorial Day in our upcoming edition of the POLICE magazine.

For more information or to find out how you can support this important cause, visit: policememorial.org.uk.

More details about Mr Curry’s campaign for an Injury on Duty Award Scheme can be found here.