Friday 29 March 2024
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Nottinghamshire Police pays tribute to fallen heroes on National Police Memorial Day

Today is the day police gather to remember those officers who have died or been killed in the line of duty – made all the more poignant this year following Friday’s events in London.

Every year officers across the country honour those who have died while on duty on or around this time of year.

This year’s event comes just days after a police officer was shot and killed in a South London custody centre.

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Officers will also be remembering PC Andrew Harper who suffered catastrophic injuries when he was dragged behind a getaway car in Berkshire last year.

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His family has since started The Harper’s Law campaign calling for mandatory life sentences for killers of emergency service workers.

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This campaign is being backed by the family of former Nottinghamshire dog handler Ged Walker who died on 9 January 2003 having been fatally injured by a perpetrator driving a stolen taxi. His widow Tracy said: “The events and anniversaries never get any easier. Nothing can replace the fact that your loved one has been senselessly taken away from you.

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“Today, my thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and colleagues of yet another police officer, tragically killed in a shooting on Friday.

“It is important that we recognise the severity of these acts committed towards officers as they go about their daily duty and it’s important that we stop to remember those we have lost in this way.”

This weekend officers would be gathering together at a chosen location to remember their comrades.

Instead this year the event will be done virtually due to Covid-19 restrictions limiting gatherings of any nature.

Nottinghamshire Police’s Chief Constable Craig Guildford will be among senior officers from across the country attending the virtual service. Mr Guildford said: “It’s imperative that we still come together across the nation and pay our respects to our fallen colleagues despite the restrictions.

“These heroic officers gave up so much in order to protect the public, leaving their families behind and this event is made even more poignant today after we lost another police officer in a fatal shooting on Friday. My thoughts remain with his family, friends and colleagues following this truly shocking incident.”

Nottinghamshire Police officers along with colleagues from the Police Federation Unison and GMB laid a wreath to remember the Met officer on Friday and the police flag remains at half-mast.

Last year, Mr Guildford and his family travelled to Glasgow for the event which usually rotates around the country every year.

Mr Guildford added: “We know that it does not compare to the loss of the families involved, but we aim to ensure that the dedication and bravery of our fallen officers lives on through the ceremonies we hold, the memorials we have made and the buildings we have named after them; this year is no different.

“In Nottinghamshire, we particularly continue to remember the sacrifices made by PC Ged Walker and PC Christopher McDonald who were killed in the line of duty in tragic circumstances and are currently building a new memorial garden at our force headquarters.

“These incidents that have devastated the lives of so many will never go unrecognised and will not be forgotten.”

Christopher McDonald was Nottinghamshire Police’s first officer to be killed in the line of duty in 1978 when he was attacked after chasing a suspected burglar who then used the officer’s own truncheon and a brick to inflict fatal injuries.

The force has recently installed a joint memorial garden with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue service at their force headquarters at Sherwood Lodge with plans to hold a dedication service early next month.

The Police Federation’s National Memorial Service is due to take place online at 3pm. More information can be found at: https://www.polfed.org/events/national-police-memorial-day/

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