A place to honour our fallen heroes

THE shooting of the brave police officer in Croydon brings into sharp focus the dangers that officers face every day.

Yesterday’s appalling tragedy demonstrated that even in the relative safety of a police custody suite there are those willing to take an officer’s life.

My colleagues and I are determined that those who pay that ultimate price will never be forgotten. That’s why we are building a new UK Police Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

The Arboretum is the place of remembrance for all our services, yet there is no fitting tribute to fallen police officers.

With construction ongoing, the Memorial will be open to the public next spring.

TRIBUTE

The role of a police officer has never been more difficult. With assaults on officers growing, greater scrutiny over stop and search, the need to do more with less and to take on new challenges, like the lack of public compliance from Covid, we are asking more and more of the men and women from our police service who walk that thin blue line.

As a career copper I know what it is like to put on your uniform. When you start your shift you do not know what you will face.

But we all expect to come home at the end of it, to kiss our loved ones good night or give our children a hug. Sadly, for that courageous officer shot in Croydon that won’t be the case.

There will be no finer tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives to policing than to ensure that they are never forgotten.

The new UK Police Memorial will not only create a place where families and friends can mourn, but a place where a grateful nation can go to remember and say thank you. You can find out more at ukpolicememorial.com.