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Tribute To Fallen Police Officers Planned
A tribute to over 4,000 UK police officers killed in the line of duty is being held in Cardiff today. Around 1,000 people from around the country are expected to gather in St. David's Hall today and will be joined by Home Office Minister Hazel Blears and the Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan.
This is the second annual memorial service after last year's inaugural event, which took place in St. Paul's Cathedral in London and was attended by members of the Royal Family as well as politicians and families of the officers being remembered. Since that event, 14 police officers have been killed in the line of duty.
Follow up:
"It is only fitting that their sacrifice, bravery, commitment to public service, and sense of justice is publicly honoured, along with the every police officer who has died upholding the law.
"Their loss is not just personal to family and friends. It is felt by local communities and society as whole. By upholding the law, police officers protect the freedoms which come with living in a democracy."
Jan Berry, Chairman Police Federation of England & Wales
I was going to write a comment on my own view but then saw it more or less summed up in the BBC report by the director of the Police Memorial Trust.
Director Michael Winner put £500,000 of his own money into getting a fitting memorial for officers lost in the line of duty.
"I formed the Police Memorial Trust 20 years ago because I think the police deserve a thank you.
There are memorials to soldiers, sailors, and airmen killed in wars, but the police are fighting a war that has no end. I thought it was extraordinary that there was no memorial to them."
Michael Winner, Director, Police Memorial Trust
Well said.