Secretaries of State and Police Chiefs stand in unity with families to commemorate police officers who have died on duty
The 23rd National Police Memorial Day took place on Sunday 27th September 2026, at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, with nearly 2,000 people in attendance.
Families, colleagues and friends of fallen police officers attend this national event year-on-year to remember officers who gave their lives in service – many in horrific circumstances.
Tributes were paid to all 4,660 police officers who have died on duty, listed on the Roll of Honour, and the names of the eight police officers who died in the past 12 months, were read out, followed by two minutes silence as petals of remembrance fell on all in attendance.
It was a poignant moment when the names of the eight officers who died recently were read out by Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly.
- Police Constable Matthew Blades, Cleveland Police, aged 37 years
- Police Constable Tom Clough, Cleveland Police, aged 38 years
- Police Constable Alice Slominska, Bedfordshire Police, aged 19 years
- Police Constable Jess Turnbull, Northumbria Police, aged 19 years
- Police Constable Mark Chester, Ministry of Defence Police, aged 35 years
- Police Constable Mathew Parker, Essex Police, aged 43 years
- Police Constable Bradley Corke, Kent Police, aged 27 years
- Police Constable Faizaan Najeeb, Northamptonshire Police, aged 24 years
Family members participated in the service, which poignantly honoured fallen officers’ commitment, courage, and sacrifice.
Northumbria Police Constable Jess Turnbull’s father laid her police hat on the alter alongside others, representing police forces from each of the four nations of the United Kingdom.
Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, who gave a reading at service, said:
“Policing is not just a profession. It is a calling answered by those with the courage to place themselves in harm’s way. Today we honour the police officers who have fallen in the line of duty and lost their lives as they sought to protect us all.
“These officers embodied what it means to selflessly serve their communities. I also want to thank those who continue to keep us safe, today and every day.”
Representing The King, Lord Lieutenant Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle presented the Elizabeth Emblem to the brother of DC Michael Swindells, West Midlands Police, who died on 21st May 2004.
DC Swindells was pursuing a suspect, known to be armed with a kitchen knife, on a towpath of the Tame Valley Canal underneath Gravelly Hill Interchange in Aston, Birmingham. Michael was fatally stabbed once in the chest, penetrating his heart.
The suspect had used the knife earlier in the day to threaten a carpenter carrying out routine repair work on a garden gate outside his house, which led to DC Swindells and some of his colleagues later encountering the suspect on a park bench, before pursuing him down the towpath for over half-a-mile.
DC Swindells was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal and the Police Memorial Trust unveiled a fixed memorial in 2008 at Tame Valley Canal, Aston, Birmingham.
During the service, candles were lit in remembrance of officers throughout the country who have lost their lives, one from each of the four nations of the United Kingdom.
Representing Northern Ireland
Jackie Gorman, mother of Police Constable Kevin Declan Gorman, Police Service of Northern Ireland, who died 23rd November 2008 (aged 24), alongside three colleagues when responding to a call for assistance when their police vehicle lost control and struck a wall.
Representing Wales
Dorothy Ellis, mother of Police Constable Adrian Bryn Ellis, Gwent Constabulary, who died on this day, 27th September 1989 (aged 29). Adrian was killed in a motorcycle accident while travelling to report for duty.
Representing Scotland
Christine Fulton MBE, wife of Police Constable Lewis George Fulton, Strathclyde Police, who died 17th June 1994 (aged 28), when he was stabbed during a violent struggle as he took action to protect members of the public.
Representing England
Chris Prior, husband of Police Constable Rosie Prior, North Yorkshire Police, who died 11th January 2025 (aged 45), when she was struck by a lorry while assisting at the scene of a collision.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said:
“It has been an enormous privilege for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to host this year’s National Police Memorial Day in Northern Ireland and to welcome so many colleagues, friends and families to Belfast.
“It was an incredible honour to have had the opportunity to spend time with families of police officers from Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom and to remember their loved ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice serving our communities. In the next few months, the Police Service of Northern Ireland will be 25 years old and this is a time to reflect on the journey policing has taken and the enormous progress we have made. We have seen incredible changes as an organisation – however, there is still more to do. Our officers and staff continue to deliver despite the ongoing challenges we face.
“Police officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep people safe and National Police Memorial Day is an important opportunity for us all to remember the loss of those who went before us and others who continue to put the safety of others above their own. Their sacrifice, commitment and dedication to their duty must never be forgotten.”