COPS Annual Service of Remembrance honours fallen officers

More than 1,200 people, including more than 300 bereaved family members, gathered to honour police officers and staff who have died on duty.

The day commenced with a powerful tribute from the Blue Knights Law Ride, as more than 150 motorcycles led the procession into the Arboretum. This international group of serving and retired law enforcement officers has been a steadfast supporter of COPS since its founding.

Moments later, the arrival of the Police Unity Tour (PUT) brought a wave of blue across the memorial grounds. More than 500 cyclists, each wearing a Unity Band engraved with the name of a Fallen Officer, completed their cross-country journey. These bands were presented to the officers’ families, symbolising remembrance and solidarity. Now in its 13th year, the PUT continues to raise essential funds for COPS, with the 2025 tour alone raising £235,000.

The service featured a moving Roll of Honour, read by COPS National President Gill Marshall, commemorating officers who have died in the past year. Survivors Laurie Murphy, Susan Gibson and Fiona Deans shared deeply personal tributes to their loved ones, capturing the depth of grief and the resilience of the survivor families. A minute’s silence followed, marked poignantly by the sound of four police whistles.

Lisa Meads, chief executive of COPS, said: “Each year, I am always moved by the strength and unity of our survivor community. The annual service is a powerful reminder of the importance of peer support, where every embrace and shared memory helps rebuild lives.”

Christine Fulton MBE, co-founder and Life Vice President of COPS, added: “The pain of losing an officer is profound, but so is the compassion shown at our gatherings. We are proud to welcome families into the COPS community and support them on their journey forward.”

The significance of the day was further underscored by the presence of chief constables and senior representatives from across the UK police family, demonstrating the collective commitment to honouring fallen officers and supporting their families.

Chief Constable John Robins of West Yorkshire Police and COPS Trustee, said: “We have come together today with those survivors, to honour the lives of their family members who have died whilst on duty – their loved ones, who made the ultimate sacrifice, in the public service of others. Their courage, dedication, professionalism and selflessness will never be forgotten.”

COPS says the Annual Service of Remembrance stands as a “testament to the enduring bond between the police family and the survivors they support”. It is a day of reflection, unity and unwavering commitment to never forget those who gave their lives in service.

The Scottish Police Federation’s assistant to the General Secretary (People and Equality), Emma-Louise Richardson, described the weekend as moving and heartwarming.

She explained: “I’ve been involved in the event over the weekend and engaging with the survivors. There have been lots of heartbreaking but heartwarming stories and it’s really important to show our support for COPS and the importance that it is to help people rebuild their lives.

“It is so moving and I think the personal stories, that life experience, is just raw and emotional and really interesting because the timeline doesn’t change grief, so it’s actually really emotive. I don’t think there were many dry eyes in the audience certainly.

“I think weekends like this demonstrate the human aspect that is always or often forgotten in policing, and I think to show that actually it’s not only the police officer that’s in the service, it’s everybody else within that family unit that’s affected by policing and then thereafter police loss.”