“Paying respects to those who have gone before us”

CARE of Police Survivors ensures those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice are never forgotten, Essex Police officers have said.

“We stand on the shoulders of those that have gone before us,” said Essex Police Chief Constable Steve Kavanagh. He is pictured with PC Rob Newlyn (left) and PC Steve Martin, who had just ridden to the charity’s annual Service of Remembrance from London as part of the Police Unity Tour.

Every cyclist rides in memory of a fallen officer and they are given a bracelet with a late officer’s name, force and last date of duty engraved on it.

PC Newlyn rode in honour of fallen Essex Police officers PC Ian Dibell and Sgt Bill Bishop and PC Martin rode in memory of PC Gary Veal.

Speaking after the 170 mile Police Unity Tour, PC Martin said he “cried from start to finish” during the service as surviving family members recalled their fallen loved ones.

He added: “It’s just given us an opportunity to pay our respects to officers that lost their lives in the course of their duty.

“This is the second year we’ve ridden the Police Unity Tour and every year you meet new friends. That’s basically what it is for me. To stand in that marquee and listening to peoples’ stories, personally just gets me”

PC Newlyn said: “For me it’s massive. I used to be on shift with Dibs at Colchester. I’m friends with Bill Bishop’s dad as well. So it’s a very personal touch for me. Yeah, it’s one of the biggest things I feel I can give, really, to their memories. And I cried as well.”

CC Kavanagh said: “It’s about a force coming together. We stand on the shoulders of those that have gone before us.

“There are so many people out there who, keeping the people of Essex safe, have given their lives. And it’s right and proper, with the support of the chaps who’ve done the bike ride, that we come back and remember those who’ve fallen. And we’ve got families here, they still remember.

“We’ve got colleagues here, they still remember. It’s important the public, the politicians and the senior police remember what’s gone before.”