Charles leads the tributes to officers killed on duty

PRINCE Charles paid tribute to the courage of police officers yesterday, just two days after a sergeant was shot dead in his own station.

The Prince described the shooting of Sgt Matt Ratana by a handcuffed suspect at Croydon Custody Centre as the “latest heartbreaking evidence” of the daily risks officers face.

New Zealand- born Matt, 54, is the eighth police officer in the UK to be shot dead in the last 20 years. The Met Police officer was just weeks from retirement after nearly 30 years of service.

Charles paid homage to him and all other officers who have died on duty in a video message for National Police Memorial Day.

He said: “The dreadful incident in Croydon on Friday is the latest heartbreaking evidence of the risks faced by our officers daily.

“I would like to send my deepest sympathy to the families of each of these officers who have given their lives.

“These are losses we can never replace, sacrifices we can never repay, but of which, as a society, we can only strive to be worthy.

“I can only say to all the e families and colleagues of fallen llen officers – and to every servving officer throughout the e United Kingdom – that you and your loved ones will always have a very special place in the heart of our nation.”

Charles, right, praised police for facing the “invisible threat” of coronavirus us with “visible courage and comommitment” and providing a “calm reassurance so essential to our communities day and night”. Boris Johnson paid tribute to the fallen officers who “represent the very best of us”. He said: “They laid down their lives to prevent us from coming to harm and we owe them a huge debt. The dedication and selflessness that they showed in serving their communities will never be forgotten.”

Earlier, Met Police Commissioner Cressida Di Dick, Mayor of London Sadiq Kh Khan and Home Secretary Priti P Patel laid wreaths at the Nati National Police Memorial in cen central London.

All three stood for a minute’s silence to remember officers who had lost their lives on duty.

Dame Cressida said: “If som some good can come out of this terrible incident it would be t that more people can understa understand a bit about the challenges and see us police as who we are – human beings, going to work to help people and to protect people. Matt was the epitome of that.”