Fallen Colleagues Remembered at National Police Memorial Day

The police family should never forget those individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice as police officers.

The Metropolitan Police Federation welcomed families of officers who have died to a reception ahead of the annual National Police Memorial Day.

They joined members of the police family from across the country in Cardiff on Sunday 24 September, to honour more than 5,000 officers who have lost their lives.

MPF Chair Ken Marsh said: “It’s always important, every year, that we come and remember to think and care about the officers that we’ve lost over the years.

“We say these words ‘never forget’ all the time, but it’s very important for the families and friends, that we do recognise what individuals have done in policing, and what they’ve given, their life. For us it’s important and it’s something that we should never, ever stop doing, and never, ever forget why we’re doing it.”

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said it was incredibly important for the police family to remember their fallen colleagues.

She added: “Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty have made that ultimate sacrifice in serving their communities, often supporting vulnerable people, and have put themselves in harm’s way.

“It’s so easy, when you see headline sin the news about policing that are predominantly negative, to forget that the vast majority of officers really care about their communities, really care about the job they do, and are willing to put themselves in harm’s way, to run forward towards danger when many others run away.

“It’s so important when, on the rare occasion when someone loses their life in the line of duty, that we remember them, we commemorate and we celebrate their wonderful service and the commitment they gave to policing. But also, we remember with their family and friends the sacrifice they made.

“I think for families it means a lot that we remember their officer for the person they were. Not just for their contribution to police service, that wonderful contribution, but also the fact that they were mothers, fathers, brothers, sons. They were people who had a life outside of policing.

“Policing has many wonderful strengths, and often the solidarity and camaraderie and police family… we talak about policing being a family, and so for us, those families are important to us, and we want to support them and look after them through their grief and their loss.”

Lord Davies of Gower, himself a former Metropolitan Police officer, met family members ahead of the service.

He said: “I spent 32 years in the Met. Retired quite a few years ago now, and then went into politics. I’m here today because it’s very important to me that people realise the very difficult job that police officers do, and that we remember those that have fallen and indeed those that are out there today taking risks.

“I’ve done it myself. I did it for 32 years, and I’m very keen to see that the public, despite all the negative news that we get about policing these days, they need to know that the police do an awfully good job.

“They’re at risk every day and I’m here to support that fact, and let people know that we care about them.”

During the service, the names of those officers who had died in the past year were read out. They are PCSO Daniel Gower, of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary; Sgt Steven Creal, of Sussex Police; PC Richard Kemp, of Lancashire Constabulary; PC Bruce Lister, of Hertfordshire Constabulary; PC Neil Pattinson, of Northumbria Police; PC Andrew Boardman, of West Mercia Police; Insp Gareth Earp, of Dyfed-Powys Police; and Sgt Graham Saville, of Nottinghamshire Police.

During the service, candles were lit for officers in each of the four nations. Representing Wales was Dorothy Ellis, mother of PC Adrian Ellis, of Gwent Police, who died aged 29 on 27 September 1989 as a result of a road traffic collision.

Representing Scotland was David Taylor, son of PC George Taylor, of Strathclyde Police, who died aged 27 on 30 November 1976 after being attacked with an axe.

Representing England was Sid Mackay, father of PC Nina Mackay, of the Metropolitan Police, who died aged 25 on 24 October 1997 having been stabbed by a wanted man. She was posthumously awarded the Commissioner’s High Commendation for Bravery.

Representing Northern Ireland were Mervyn and Dorothy Reynolds, parents of Constable Philippa Reynolds, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, who died aged 27 on 9 February 2013 after the police vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck by a stolen vehicle.

The service also heard a reading First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford, Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

There was silence as petals of remembrance, representing all who have lost their lives, descended from the gallery as the Last Post was sounded.