Essex Police Federation has joined the wider police family to honour the thousands of officers who have died on police duty

Essex Police Federation has joined the wider police family to honour the thousands of officers who have died on police duty.

Federation Chair Laura Heggie and Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington paid their respects to fallen colleagues at the 18th annual National Police Memorial Day at Lincoln Cathedral on 26th September.

The annual event honours more than 5,000 officers who have lost their lives on duty. It was the first time the police family had gathered together for National Police Memorial Day since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Laura was joined at the poignant ceremony by Donna Cox, whose Essex Police officer sister Jo-Ann Jennings died in a collision in 1989.

“It’s so important to be here,” Laura said, “to show that these people who made the ultimate sacrifice are not forgotten.

“It’s really important too that we’re able to attend the day in person. I think it means so much more to the families, and that’s why we are here; to show their loved ones did not die in vain.”

Chief Constable BJ Harrington said the officers honoured at the service would never be forgotten.

“Throughout the years, our officers, staff and volunteers have made huge sacrifices to protect their communities, to make the world safer. It’s what British policing is all about,” he said.

“It’s really important that on behalf of Essex Police and our senior officers that all of us gather to remember those sacrifices, to respect and remember the families and to show that the sacrifices mean something. These officers won’t be forgotten.”

The names of those officers who had died in the past year were read out during the moving service.

HRH The Prince of Wales, who is patron of NPMD, said the country was ‘forever grateful for the steadfast dedication to duty of our police officers who have adapted and worked so tirelessly amidst the ever-changing circumstances’ of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Writing in the commemorative brochure, Prince Charles said: “We owe a most profound debt of gratitude to our police service and its remarkable officers, who, along with their families, will continue to have a very special place in the heart of our nation.”

Officers who have died in the past year were remembered during the service. They are: Sgt Paul Keany, of Northamptonshire Police; PC Christopher Miller, of the Metropolitan Police; Sgt Matt Ratana, of the Metropolitan Police; PC Thomas White, of Police Scotland;  PC Darryl Street of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and PC Quamar Zaman, of Greater Manchester Police.

During the service, candles were lit for officers in each of the four nations. Representing England was Jayne Clemson, daughter of PC Ray Davenport, of Merseyside Police, who died in 1981 following a traffic incident.

Representing Northern Ireland was Andrea Brown, daughter of RUC Sgt Eric Brown, who was fatally shot by terrorist gunmen in 1983.

Representing Wales was Rhianydd Gardiner, great-niece of PC Noel Alexander, who died in 1964 because of injuries sustained in a training incident.

Representing Scotland was Faye Buggins, widow of PC Roy Buggins, who collapsed and died on duty in 2019.

The service also heard a reading from Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Addressing the service, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “Policing is a vocation… the women and men of the front line have risen magnificently to the challenges of the past 18 months.

“Today, we pay tribute to the courage of those killed in service, and the great courage showed by their families ever since.

“Today, we thank them for who they were, and we thank them for what they did and what they contributed to society.

“Police officers know their actions may cost their lives. The loss of a colleague on duty is felt by each and every member of the service.”

Addressing the families present, she said: “We will never forget you or the sacrifice that your loved ones made.”

There was silence as petals of remembrance, representing all who have lost their lives, descended from the gallery as the Last Post was sounded.

Laura added: “When the coloured petals drifted down from above it was really quite a moment, the petals glistened from the light through the stain glass windows of the Cathedral which I found mesmerising. The petals were blue or green in colour but there were six red ones representing the six officers who have died on duty in the last year, a really fitting tribute.”