TRIBUTE
her commitment to community service, having already given more than 200 hours of voluntary time. Tiff Lynch, Chair, Police Federation of England and Wales read the names of officers who have lost their lives during the past year, their memory acknowledged with quiet reverence. PC Faizaan Najeeb, Northamptonshire Police; PC Ian Minett, Gloucestershire Constabulary; PC Michael Bruce Metropolitan Police; PC Frank Hawkins, Metropolitan Police, PC Marcus Bennett, Civil Nuclear Constabulary; PC Rosie Prior, North Yorkshire Police; and DC Karen Smith, Humberside Police. Tiff Lynch said, “On National
colleagues who bear that loss every day.”
THE FIRST ELIZABETH EMBLEM A historic moment in the ceremony saw the presentation of the Elizabeth Emblem for the first time, awarded in memory of officers including PC Royston Jerred, Sergeant Noel Lane, PC Mark Peers, PC Ian Rodgers, and PC Dennis Arthur Smith.
“Our brave police work tirelessly
to protect the public, facing down danger and putting themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe.”
Police Memorial Day, the entire police family honours the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Each name we remember carries with it a story of courage, duty, and selflessness. The legacy of our fallen officers’ lives on, not only through their families and loved ones, but in the hearts of their colleagues who continue their work with pride and determination. It is a powerful reminder that behind every badge is a person who put others before themselves, serving their communities. We must never forget those we have lost, and we will always support the families and their close
Candles were lit for officers across the four nations, each flame symbolising sacrifice and memory:
• Northern Ireland: Peter Olphert remembered his father RC John
honoured her father DC Michael Swindells QGM, who was fatally stabbed in 2004.
• Wales: Lowri Davies lit a candle for her father, PC Terry Davies, killed in a hit-
Robinson Olphert, shot in 1983 while off duty.
and-run in 1981.
• England: Kelly Swindells, alongside her one-year-old daughter Mabel,
• Scotland: Serving Police Scotland officer Linsey Dempsey honoured her
father, PC Stuart Simpson, killed in 1994 in a motorway collision.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones also spoke, offering thanks on behalf of government: “Our brave police work tirelessly to
protect the public, facing down danger and putting themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. National Police Memorial Day is a time to honour the fallen and recognise the loss felt by those they have left behind.” National Police Memorial Day
has grown since its inaugural service at St Paul’s Cathedral
in 2004. Held annually on the Sunday closest to Saint Michael’s Day, the Patron Saint of Police, it rotates across the four nations of the UK, each host city offering a moment for reflection and unity. This year’s Coventry service reaffirmed
the day’s role as an official national commemoration, recognised by government and royalty alike. With petals drifting silently from the gallery, symbolising all officers who have given their lives, the cathedral congregation stood as one—grieving, remembering, and above all, honouring the courage of those who never returned from duty.
14 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2025
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