NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL DAY Sunday 27 September 2020 This Year, As a Nation, We Have Been Challenged in Ways We Could Never Have Anticipated
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NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL DAY Sunday 27 September 2020 This year, as a Nation, we have been challenged in ways we could never have anticipated. We have faced Throughout the United Kingdom, our Police Forces deliver a service that is the envy of the world. an unseen,Our P butolic deadlye Offic ethreatrs and amid Civil idisruptedan Suppor andt Sta ever-changingff, drawn from circumstances.a multitude of dHowever,iverse ba cthroughoutkgrounds, all the uncertainty,but unified we by have a sen learnedse of co masm neveritmen beforet and d tout yvalue, dist ithosenguish things them sofel vwhiches on wea d acanily balwaysasis th rbeou gcertainh – such asth theeir csteadfastourage, c odedicationnsideration toan dduty sen sofi tiourvity Policeto th eForces needs throughoutof those the they p roUnitedtect. Kingdom. Our officersTShinroceu gthh oehaveu Pt othl icemete U anthisriete sdoinvisible K dinegedpoly m threati,n otuerg rPa owithtleicde visible wFoitrhceins dtcourageheeli vceor ma mandseurv nicommitment,icteie tsh taht eiys tsheer veprovidingen, vtyh oerfe t h cethea nw obcalmrel da. reassuranceOteumr pPto athatlticioen Ohas foffri cbeenseorcsi ea tnsoyd t essentialoC itvailkiaen y oS utorp p coourrmt mScommunitiestiatmff, ednrta wfonr gfrr oadaymnt e ad and.m Hu onight.ltwiteuvde er , oThatI fw do iuvsucheldrs lei k extraordinarybe atcok gtarokeu ntdhs is, bouptp uonrtifuiendit yb yt oa esxepnrses os fm coy mspmeictimale andt manirda tdiounty f, odri stthineg muisahn yth aecmtss eolfv esse loflne sas ndeasilsy abnads isin tdhirvoiduugahl commitmenttheir co ushouldrage, c soon softeniderat ioben takenand s efornsi tgrantedivity to isth ea nemeasureeds of thofo showe th ewey phaverote ccomet. to expect nothing less thanher theoism highest which standardsoccur dai lfromy. W houreth officers,er these a rande r eshowsported owhyr n oourt, aPolicell de seForcesrved ohaveur re searnedpect anthed gratitude as we mark the National Police Memorial Day in Glasgow today. admirationSince tofh ethe Po liworld.ce are so deeply integrated within the communities they serve, there can be a tIenm thpetsaeti odnif fficour lst otcimieetys , tvoio tlaeknet cyroimure c pormesmenittms ean sti gfnoirf igcraanntt tehdr. eHato wnoetv eorn, lIy w to utlhde l iskaef ettoy toafk Pe otlhicise While,oO sadly,pfpfiocretr uwesn aitn cannotyd tou er xc pgatherormesms mu ninyi t stheiepse, c busualiault aadl msmanneroi rtaot iothn e to fov emarkr rtyh efa mthisbraicn specialyo fa ocutsr osdayof csiee ofltfyl e.Remembrance, sIs pnaerstsi caunldar liyn dwi vweisidhu cantaol all take a hrmomenteemroeismmb ew rto ht ihhonourceh foivcec uO thoser ffdiaceilry swho. Wwhh ohavee thhaevr epaid t hsoe s ttheer aag riultimateeca rlleyp olorstte dtpriceh oerir nlandiovte, sa iwholnl dt hehaveese lrivn eegivend o of ud rutheir treys sp ilivesenccte a linansd tthe servicegy reofaatr iothers.’tsu cdeer eams wIo particularlyney m ina rBke tlhfaes Nt , awishtnido nttoaol orememberPfofleicr em My edme thoseeoprieaslt D sayOfficersym ipna Gthlays tg oowho wth teohaveird laoyv .soed tragicallyones, tog elostthe rtheir wi thlives since wepro metfoun ind gGlasgowratitude flastor t hyear.eir s e Thervice dreadful. At such incidentan impo sinsi bCroydonly heartb onrea Fridayking ti mis ethe, I d olatest hope heartbreaking that their evidenceIfna mt hofieli sethees wd iirisksflfli dcuelr tfacediv teim soe msby, ev ioursomlea nOfficersllt ccorinmsoel aptr ieodaily.sne inn t skI na o swouldwigingi flike itchaan tt tow t hesendr sehaatl ln fomyotr eodeepestvnelry hton t ohsympathyuer stahfeeitry m oetofm P othelriyc …efamilies Officers and our communities, but also to the very fabric of our society. I particularly wish to of each of these officers who have given their lives. These are losses we can never replace, sacrifices we remember the five Officers who have so tragically lost their lives in the line of duty since last can neverPoli crepay,ing in butthe Uofn which,ited Kin asgd ao msociety, has en weorm canous only pres strivesures ttoo cbeon tworthy.end wit h, no more so than on the yferoanr’ts lcineere. mAso snoyc inet Bye clhfaasntg, easn,d s ot om oufsfet rt hmey w daeye ipne wsth sicyhm wpaet shuyp tpoo rtth aenird l opvroedte octn eosu, rt coogmetmheurn witiitehs. pYrooufor ujonbd igs roatnietu odfe t fhoer ttohuegirh seesrtv itchee. r Ae ti ss,u acnhd a anl li mtopoo ossfitbelny yhoeuart ebfrfeoarktisn go t iumnere, Ic doogn hizoepde. that their We owefam ourilie spolice will d eservicerive so mande s mitsa lremarkablel consolation officers in knowi ntheg th atmost we profoundshall forev edebtr ho nofo ugratituder their me mforo rytheir… continued,I am p selflessroud to b ecommitment with you to danday, adedicationnd I particu tolar lythe w aprotectionnt you to k nofow our how vcommunities.ery muc h I appreciate Paolll itchiantg yino ut hdeo U, annidte tdh Ke isnagcdroifmice hs ayso eun moramkeo.u Yso pur aenssdu yreosu tro f acmoniltiesn dh awviet ha, vneor ym sopreec siaol tphlacne o in tthe Ladiesf handreoanrt t Gentlemen,l ionfe t. h Aiss Nsoactiie oIt nhopey. cha nthatges, thisso m dayust providesthe way i nat w leasthich wsomee sup comfortport and to pr thoseotect owhour c ohavemmu lostniti etheirs. loved ones,Your j oandb is thatone ito fprovides the toug hreassuranceest there is, thatand atheirll to oexample often yo willur e leavefforts ag olegacy unrec ofog inspiration.nized. I can only say to all the families, friends and colleagues of fallen officers – and to every serving officer throughout the I am proud to be with you today, and I particularly want you to know how very much I appreciate United Kingdom – that you and your loved ones will always have a very special place in the heart of our all that you do, and the sacrifices you make. You and your families have a very special place in the Nation.heart of this Nation. 1 1 2 Message from John Apter, Chair of Trustees, Order of Service National Police Memorial Day Opening music, footage and images Introduction on behalf of the Trustees of National Police Memorial Day On behalf of the Trustees of National Police Memorial Canon David Wilbraham MBE, Coordinator, National Police Memorial Day Day (NPMD), thank you for your continued support of this important day and welcome to our ‘virtual’ service of Opening words remembrance. Guide our praying and loving, Cherish our remembering, Policing comes with a huge amount of risk and this is at God, our God who forgets no-one. Amen. the forefront of our minds even more so today following the devastating news on Friday 25th September, when We pray for all those involved in policing, who will, today, risk their lives to keep us safe, and for all our colleague in the Metropolitan Police was tragically who support, nurture and encourage them. killed. Mindful that peace, order and safety can be very fragile, we commit ourselves afresh to pursuing all NPMD ensures that police officers who gave their all are that makes for peace and to caring for those in deepest need. never forgotten. We must always remember them - their commitment and ultimate sacrifice to public service. Reflection: “What National Police Memorial Day means to me…” Everyday police officers selflessly put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others – I thank them, and I am proud to represent them. Today is an ─ Louie Johnston, son of Reserve Constable David Johnston, Royal Ulster Constabulary George emotional day – a stark reminder of just how precious life is. Cross, died 1997, aged 30 ─ Jayne & Lowri Davies, widow and daughter of Police Constable Terry Davies, Gwent Police, Since 2004, NPMD has been a day to recall the sacrifices made by officers across the generations – died 1990, aged 34 approximately 5,000 names. It is also a time to remember those known to us personally and those ─ Rumbie Mabuto, widow of Detective Constable Joe Mabuto, Thames Valley Police, died 2016, who gave their lives in the previous twelve months. It is a public show of support, solidarity and aged 42 commitment to fallen colleagues. ─ Donna Alcock, widow of Police Constable John Alcock, Grampian Police, died 2017, aged 54 This is the first time in our 17-year history that we have hosted a virtual service. We usually have Accompanied by the British Police Symphony Orchestra playing ‘I vow to thee my country around 2,000 people attending in person - I can’t say what the numbers will be online but NPMD’s Trustees were adamant that, despite the current restrictions due to the pandemic, our annual Reading: The Beatitudes commemoration would take place. On your behalf, I want to thank all those who have contributed The Right Honourable Priti Patel MP, Home Secretary to, and worked hard to produce, this year’s service. Jesus said: The service is important for the relatives of the officers killed, their friends, their colleagues, the “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. wider police family, and our nations – we must always ensure those officers are never forgotten. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. This past year has seen huge demands placed upon the police service in all manner of ways and Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. it has responded with great commitment and integrity. Day by day officers and staff demonstrate Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. their willingness to fulfil their duties - sadly, sometimes with a costly loyalty. As we hold this Act of Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Remembrance we remember especially the seven officers who have died on duty this year; we also Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. remember those, across the generations, who have died on duty throughout policing history.