Police memorial charities merge to establish new remembrance trust

Recognised by royalty and with a combined 43 years of honouring those who serve and those who have died or been killed on duty, the charities said they have “joined as one in their shared, whole-hearted commitment to ensure the sacrifices of police officers throughout the UK and Island of Ireland are never forgotten”.

On behalf of the now combined group of Trustees, newly-elected chair of the Police Remembrance Trust, Reverend Canon David Wilbraham MBE said: “This is a huge moment in the history of these two charities. We acknowledge and pay tribute to retired Inspector Joe Holness QPM OBE, the founder of National Police Memorial Day, and those who have developed the Police Roll of Honour Trust establishing it by Royal Charter.

“We believe that together we can build on their vision, work and commitment. To all who have been involved with National Police Memorial Day and the Police Roll of Honour Trust we are grateful for your support over the years and invite you to remain on this journey with us with continuing commitment and enthusiasm.”

Paul Griffiths OBE, said: “This is a hugely exciting time as we take this new singular charity forward and I am proud to be part of it.”

Mr Griffiths paid tribute to now retired National Police Chaplain David Wilbraham, saying: “I can think of no better person to chair the Police Remembrance Trust. David is a force of nature with 45 years in policing, both as an officer and police chaplain. His passion for policing knows no bounds and his empathy, care and pastoral care for those at their lowest points has been a lifeline to many.”

Over the coming months work will continue to make this new partnership a reality.

National Police Memorial Day will remain an important date for the police family and preparations are well underway for a special weekend in Cardiff when guests will be welcomed to mark the 20th anniversary of the event.

The British Police Symphony Orchestra will be performing on Saturday, September 23, in St David’s Hall, followed by the remembrance day service on Sunday September 24, also in St David’s Hall.

As well as maintaining National Police Memorial Day, other priorities for the new Police Remembrance Trust is to build on the efforts already in progress to establish a Welsh Police Memorial, and to continue working in partnership with the new UK Digital Police Memorial.

The Police Remembrance Trust said this marks a “new era for UK police memorial charities” and it firmly believes that “recognising bravery, commitment, integrity, dedication and sacrifice is a great reflection of the vast majority of those involved in policing today”.

“Affirming their role and telling their stories can be part of the solution to the issues they and the service currently face,” it added.

The National Police Memorial Day remembers police officers who have been killed or died on duty.

Former HRH The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, became the Patron of the National Police Memorial Day charity in 2006.

More than 5,000 police officers have died while on duty since the modern service was formed over 180 years ago.

The Police Roll of Honour Trust was formed in March 2000, as a registered charity, and was later incorporated by Royal Charter, with clear aims and objectives, in the provision of a record of all those police officers who have lost their lives “on and in the line of duty”, since the earliest of times throughout the UK, and Ireland up until 1922.

It commemorates their sacrifice in public service and provides a focal point and visible means for family and friends to reflect on the loss of their loved ones and to know that their loss is not forgotten. There are more than 5,000 deaths listed in the ‘Roll of Honour’. In 2015 the Trust published the ‘UK Police Roll of Remembrance’, a book listing all of those who died.