Supporting the campaign for the UK Police Memorial: Lord Stevens’ speech to Federation Conference 2017

Good morning. As Patron of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust I am delighted to be here today to launch our appeal to finish one of the most important projects for our Police service and for our whole country – the establishment of the new UK Police Memorial. But let us remind ourselves why this Memorial is so important. [Video played here – available via the Police Federation’s conference microsite]. 

That powerful video was produced a number of years ago.  Since then, sadly we have seen more of our colleagues pay the ultimate sacrifice.

The officers represented in that film reflect those from our policing family who have been killed in the line of duty. Many of the cases highlighted are high-profile, those that have captured the public and media attention.

But we must NEVER forget all those officers and staff killed on duty or who have died in service.  

When a member of our policing family is taken from us, we come together in a sign of unity and support. This was clearly demonstrated most recently at the funeral of PC Palmer where officers came to London not just from across the country, but from across the world.

As a former Commissioner and Chief Constable I am proud to be part of that policing family. A family that looks out for each other at times of need. But I also know what it’s like to lose one of your own.

Just this week in history, we lost five colleagues in one single road traffic accident. In May 1978 five police officers from West Yorkshire were killed in a coach crash whilst on their way to the Police Federation Conference in Blackpool.  

They are just five of the 68 whose anniversaries fall this week. The earliest PC John Cooper, an officer of St. Martin’s in the Field, Middlesex, was who was fatally stabbed in 1702 whilst dispersing a disorderly crowd. Then there is DC Michael Swindells, stabbed to death on 21st May 2004 attempting to arrest a violent suspect not far from here, for which he was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.

It is to honour these and thousands of other officers that we are building the new UK Police Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Policing is our country’s gifts to the world. But to have no fitting memorial at the national place of remembrance that honours our brave Police men and women who have lost their lives fulfilling their, duty cannot be right.

We have all been touched by the murder of PC Keith Palmer.  He is but the latest of thousands of officers who have died serving and protecting our communities.

Since the creation of the Bow Street Runners in 1749 as the world’s first recognised Police service, over 4,000 men and women from across the United Kingdom have given their lives. Losses in British overseas territories and other UK administered forces number a further 1,000.  

Unlike many other countries like the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada, the UK – the birthplace of modern Policing – has no comprehensive memorial to honour their policing heroes at the place where the nation comes together to honour it services.

There are local and regional policing memorials around the country, including the National Police Memorial in The Mall in London which was the vision of the late Michael Winner, whose widow Geraldine is my fellow Patron.

The new UK Police Memorial will not replace these, but will complement them just as the Cenotaph complements the National Armed Forces Memorial at the Arboretum and the thousands of other military memorials throughout every village, town and city in our country.

Families struck by the loss of a loved one killed on duty need to be able to remember and reflect on their death in a peaceful and tranquil environment; the service needs a place where large acts of commemoration can take place; and society needs a place that inspires a deep understanding and appreciation of Policing on the part of every one of its citizens. The new UK Police Memorial will give us that.

But we are not just going to build a physical memorial. The new UK Police Memorial will be the first in the world that brings together a memorial for the modern age.  

It will have a dramatic online and digital presence with specially designed apps to tell the stories of policing and the fallen.  

It will include a dedicated education programme with learning materials especially developed for schools, tour parties and individual visitors to the NMA.

A permanent Living Memorial Fund will be established that not only maintains the memorial for the nation, but will provide support to the families of the fallen when they need it the most.

I’m now proud to show you more about our plans.

Today I ask us all to remember that we are the living representatives of our fallen colleagues throughout the centuries.  Whether it’s PC Cooper in 1702 or more recently PC Palmer; their lives go on through you and the work of your colleagues. If we don’t work together to deliver this Memorial, we are surely letting them and their families down.

I want to appeal to the Federations in England and Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland – you who look after our frontline officers – help us finish the job.

We have raised £2.5 million of the £4 million required so far.  This has been with the support of generous donors, including serving officers and members of the public who respect what we do.  

The Government has contributed £1million from the LIBOR Fund, saying:

“This was money taken from those who exhibited the worst in human behaviour but we are giving it to those who demonstrate the best.”

Our appeal is supported by our media partners – Express newspapers and LBC radio.  Nick Ferrari is broadcasting live from this very location this morning.  As we speak he is urging the whole country to get behind us.

It cannot be right that such an important tribute to our lost colleagues is just funded by government, the media and members of the public.  WE – the Police service – must lead.

If the Federation supports us with a contribution of just £10 per member, we can dedicate the Memorial next year.  I urge you to join us and to do that by the time of the Police Bravery Awards in July.  

Then together we can announce and celebrate your leadership and applaud your role in delivering this fantastic legacy to our fallen colleagues.

Finally, I am delighted this morning to be able to announce that the UK Police Memorial has received Royal support.  In a personal message from His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge he says:

“The United Kingdom is recognised around the world as the home of modern policing but, as recent events have reminded us, that rich heritage is interwoven with a history of sacrifice. More than 1,400 police officers and staff have died in the line of duty, and it is high time a Police Memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum existed to act as a focal point for remembrance and gratitude.

“Since 2001, the National Memorial Arboretum has been a place of solemn remembrance and quiet reflection. It is therefore a fitting place in which to pay tribute to the bravery and dedication of the policemen and women who have given up their lives, and the commitment and courage of all those who continue to serve.

“This campaign aims to fund a physical memorial and a digital experience, as well as a living memorial that will help to support the families of the fallen. The money committed so far by the Government, as well as Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners, staff associations and companies and business is testament to the significance of this project, and I have no doubt that people across the UK will be eager to raise the rest of the funds needed.

“I am delighted to lend my support to this campaign to raise funds to honour the memory of the hundreds of fallen officers by erecting a UK Police Memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum.”

Signed William.

I am asking you to lend your support to this campaign so that we can establish a Memorial that our police service and our country so richly deserve.

Thank you.