The annual memorial service for fallen officers has taken place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas.
A number of Staffordshire Police Federation members were at the emotional ceremony and cadets and Special Constables from across the Force played a major role in making the event a success.
Branch secretary Glyn Pattinson paid tribute to the work of the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity which held the poignant memorial service which was also attended by hundreds of officers who took part in the ninth Police Unity Tour (PUT) bike ride.
Staffordshire officers Stephen Flynn, Rich Hardy, Peter Fox, Ben Harrison, James Bream, Tom Ellerton, Steve Smith and Gareth Simons all took part in the marathon three-day ride before joining family, friends and hundreds of colleagues from across the UK whose long-distance rides all finished at the arboretum.
Glyn said: “The service was as moving and poignant as ever and a special thanks goes to the Staffordshire Cadets and Specials who worked so hard behind the scenes to make it happen.
“Thanks are also due to the eight Staffordshire officers who took on the challenge of the Police Unity Tour bike ride to try to raise as much money as possible for COPS. There is still time to donate to their fund-raising effort on the PUT Justgiving page and I would urge all our members to go online and make a contribution.
“It really was an incredible effort on behalf of an incredible charity. COPS provides vital support to the families of police officers who lose their lives while on duty.
“The fact that this year’s roll of honour featured the names of 27 fallen officers and included those who had died of Covid, shows that our members are literally putting their lives on the line to protect our communities and underlines the importance of the work carried out by organisations such as COPS.”
The outdoor memorial ceremony featured moving readings and poetry from relatives of fallen officers with music provided by the West Midlands Police Band.
Wreaths were laid by the Lord Lieutenant Of Staffordshire Ian Dudson and representatives from the Home Office, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, HMICFRS, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Blue Knights, PUT, COPS and the National Memorial Arboretum.
The closing address was delivered by the chair of the COPS board of trustees, Sir Peter Fahy, who paid tribute to the families and friends of fallen colleagues.
He told the service: “Every time I talk to a survivor, you lift me, you inspire me with your courage, with your bravery and with your openness and the way you support each other because that is what this charity is all about.
“You have heard so very, very powerfully about how important that is.
“It is so challenging to be a police officer or a member of the police staff and we have seen that particularly over the past two years.
“It has never felt really that policing has been so unappreciated and so misunderstood with police officers and police staff under such pressure.
“And, of course, our roll of honour only reflects those officers and staff who have died over the last two years but COPS is very much about continuing the memory for many years past and we all know that time isn't a great healer, it just piles up the family events, the birthdays, the occasions where that loved one is missing.
“Policing asks so much of the people who step forward to serve. Officers and staff take so many risks and all the time they carry the pressures of what they have seen and what they have had to deal with - much of it not noticed by the public and not appreciated - often dealing with very traumatic and upsetting incidents.
“Whatever might be the circumstances in which an officer or member of staff dies, they are carrying those pressures and it is so very, very important that this sacrifice and the sacrifice of their loved ones and families are recognised in this way.
“We in COPS will never forget that and none of the survivors will ever forget that as we move forward, as we grow and as we continue to support one another.”
Last week, HRH The Prince of Wales was at the arboretum for the unveiling of the new UK Police Memorial.
