National police memorial unveiled in London

Political party leaders, senior officers and the families and relatives of fallen officers gathered on the corner of The Mall and Horse Guards in London, to witness the official opening this month.
A guard of honour was also provided by more than 50 constables wearing the uniforms of every UK police force.

Laying a wreath at the memorial, the Queen said the courage and personal sacrifice of the officers would ‘serve as an inspiration to us all.’

The memorial, designed by Lord Norman Foster, is the culmination of a 10-year campaign by film director Michael Winner and is intended to stand as a lasting tribute to all police officers.
Mr Winner established the National Police Memorial Trust after PC Yvonne Fletcher was murdered outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984.

Mr Winner, who put £500,000 of his own money towards the project, said: “Twenty one years ago I was deeply moved by the senseless murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher. It seemed unfair the police had no public memorials to commemorate their bravery when they faced danger every day. So I formed The Police Memorial Trust to place memorials to officers slain on duty at the spot where they died, to pay tribute to them and to the police of our nation. We now have 29 memorials throughout the land.

“I also thought the police deserved a National Police Memorial in a significant place in our capital city. I acquired for The National Police Memorial the finest site in London, on the comer of The Mall and Horse Guards.”

Nearly 1,600 names of those officers unlawfully killed carrying out their duty are recorded in a remembrance book encased behind glass in the dark stone wall of the first part of the monument. The first name recorded is that of an unknown officer who died in 1680.

A glass pillar, also part of the memorial, will be lit with a blue light in recognition of the blue lamps that adorned police stations.

Since 1984 the Police Memorial Trust has established 29 memorials to 33 officers around the country.