It is right that the police family comes together to honour the memory of those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Defence Police Federation Secretary Mitch Batt was talking as he attended the annual National Police Memorial Day, where thousands of police officers who have died on duty were remembered.
Members of the police family gathered in Cardiff on Sunday 24 September, to honour more than 5,000 officers who have lost their lives on duty.
Mitch said: “I think it’s important because, when you look at the way policing is at this moment in time, we really do need to take heed and look at those officers that have made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.
“Our officers are out there, day in and day out, putting their lives on the line and actually it’s only us that really celebrate what they’ve done for us, because we don’t seem to get that support from Government or from the media at the moment.”
During the service, the names of those officers who had died in the past year were read out. They are PCSO Daniel Gower, of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary; Sgt Steven Creal, of Sussex Police; PC Richard Kemp, of Lancashire Constabulary; PC Bruce Lister, of Hertfordshire Constabulary; PC Neil Pattinson, of Northumbria Police; PC Andrew Boardman, of West Mercia Police; Insp Gareth Earp, of Dyfed-Powys Police; and Sgt Graham Saville, of Nottinghamshire Police.
Candles were lit for officers in each of the four nations. Representing Wales was Dorothy Ellis, mother of PC Adrian Ellis, of Gwent Police, who died aged 29 on 27 September 1989 as a result of a road traffic collision.
Representing Scotland was David Taylor, son of PC George Taylor, of Strathclyde Police, who died aged 27 on 30 November 1976 after being attacked with an axe.
Representing England was Sid Mackay, father of PC Nina Mackay, of the Metropolitan Police, who died aged 25 on 24 October 1997 having been stabbed by a wanted man. She was posthumously awarded the Commissioner’s High Commendation for Bravery.
Representing Northern Ireland were Mervyn and Dorothy Reynolds, parents of Constable Philippa Reynolds, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, who died aged 27 on 9 February 2013 after the police vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck by a stolen vehicle.
The service also heard a reading First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford, Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
There was silence as petals of remembrance, representing all who have lost their lives, descended from the gallery as the Last Post was sounded.
