Nation Comes Together to Honour Fallen Police Officers Five Years After Iconic Memorial was Dedicated

Hundreds of family members, senior policing leaders, representatives from across the policing family, government, partners and supporters will gather today (Tuesday, 28 July) at the National Memorial Arboretum to commemorate police officers and members of police staff from across the UK who have died in the line of duty.

The Ceremony of Remembrance takes place exactly five years after the UK Police Memorial was dedicated at the Arboretum by His Majesty the King, then HRH The Prince of Wales, in 2021.

Since then, the Memorial has welcomed almost two million visitors and has become the nation’s permanent place of remembrance for policing, where families, colleagues and members of the public come to remember, pay their respects, and honour the courage, service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the service of others.

The Ceremony will start with a flypast by the National Police Air Service (NPAS), and will feature readings, musical performances by the British Police Symphony Orchestra, the laying of wreaths, a procession of standards from all police forces across the UK, and a minute’s silence in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

During the ceremony, a message from His Majesty the King will be read by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Graham Morley, paying tribute to those whose courage and selfless service continue to inspire the nation.

One of the most poignant moments of the ceremony will be the reading of A Bird, the winning poem from the National Memorial Arboretum’s poetry competition, by its author, 15-year-old Holly. The competition invited young people from Staffordshire Schools to reflect on the sacrifice of fallen officers and staff, demonstrating how remembrance continues to inspire future generations.

To coincide with the Ceremony of Remembrance, the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust has also launched a Digital Tribute Wall, enabling families, friends and colleagues to leave lasting messages of remembrance linked directly to an individual’s citation on the Police Roll of Honour.

The Tribute Wall forms part of the new Digital Memorial, which brings together the work of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust and the Police Remembrance Trust, providing a single online place where visitors can remember those who gave their lives in service, explore the work of both charities, and look at Police Roll of Honour, whilst discovering the stories behind the names.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Gavin Stephens, Chair of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust, said:

Five years after the dedication of the UK Police Memorial, we will come together once again to honour those who gave their lives in service to others and to stand alongside the families, friends and colleagues who continue to carry their memory.

The Memorial is more than a place of reflection. It is a permanent promise that the courage, service and sacrifice of those we honour will never be forgotten.

Today’s ceremony, together with the launch of the Digital Tribute Wall and the continued development of the Digital Memorial, demonstrates our commitment to ensuring their stories are preserved and shared with future generations.

Since its dedication in 2021, the UK Police Memorial has welcomed more than two million visitors to the National Memorial Arboretum and has become a place where families, colleagues and members of the public can pause, reflect and remember.

The Digital Memorial and Digital Tribute Wall can be accessed at www.policememorial.org.uk.