Staffordshire officers are being urged to help the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust to create a pioneering new online tribute to fallen colleagues.
Federation chair Lee Robinson is calling on members to complete a short survey on behalf of the trust that will help to shape the development of a digital memorial to accompany the UK Police Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas.
Lee said: “I am proud of the fact that the UK Police Memorial is here in Staffordshire and that so many friends, family and colleagues of fallen officers have made the journey here to pay their respects.
“This new initiative is a great way to extend the reach of the memorial and provide extra comfort and assurance to families of fallen officers that their loved one is never forgotten. So, I would like to make a personal plea to colleagues to take a couple of minutes to complete the survey and help shape this new website.”
Those accessing the digital memorial would be able to view an ‘on this day’ tribute which highlights the names of officers who died on a particular day and search for an officer by name, force, date of death and rank.
Enhanced tributes will be developed that tell the personal stories of those behind the badge including interviews with family, friends and colleagues, access to news archives and personal photographs.
The chair of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trustees, Martin Hewitt, said: “Working with our partner, the Police Roll of Honour Trust, the digital memorial will give visitors access to the records of almost 5,000 police officers who have dedicated their lives to policing, from as far back as the Bow Street Runners in 1749.
“However, we need the help of the service, the wider policing family and the general public to help us develop the next stage. We want to hear from you about what you would like to see on the digital memorial and how you and visitors may wish to use it.”
People can participate and contribute to the consultation process by completing an online survey.
