The Defence Police Federation’s General Secretary, Mitch Batt, is retiring this August – just a day before he embarks on the UK Police Unity Tour, as “a last hurrah”.
Mitch, who has been a Ministry of Defence Police officer for 40 years, is a keen cyclist but has never taken part in the Unity Tour before.
He said: “I joined policing in 1980 as a Met cadet, then joined the Ministry of Defence Police in 1985. I’ve been MDP ever since. My last day in service will be 31 July this year, and I’ll start riding the Unity Tour on 1 August – the day after I retire.
“It will be difficult to leave the job because I’ve been doing it for so long. If you include the Met cadets, I’ve got 45 years of service, so it’s going to be strange. But I think now is the right time to go. I’m ready to retire, I’m ready to ride off into the sunset, quite literally.”
The UK Police Unity Tour takes place every summer, where officers from Forces all over the country cycle to the National Memorial Arboretum in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
Their arrival coincides with the The Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Annual Service of Remembrance.
The Unity Tour aims to raise awareness of officers who have died in the line of duty, as well as raise funds for the COPS charity, which helps the families of fallen officers.
Mitch said: “I’ve looked at doing the Unity Tour for the past couple of years, but it’s always been full. This year I made it known that this will be my last year in Force and I’d like to do the Unity Tour as a last hurrah before I retire.
“We’re leaving from Huntingdon Police HQ on the 1st of August, then cycling all the way to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire for the 3rd of August – it’ll be around 160 miles.
“I’m doing training in the run-up to it – I’ve got a Peloton bike I can use when the weather’s not good, and I’ve got my bike to go out when the weather’s better.
“The Unity Tour is so important, because it recognises those officers who have died in the line of duty, and it helps look after their families. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve cycled for years, but just with local clubs, I’ve never taken part in something as big as this.
“It will also be great to help raise money for the COPS charity.”
