BTP Federation has welcomed the launch of a new digital platform dedicated to commemorating police officers and staff who have died in the line of duty.
The new Digital Memorial has been created by the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust (UK Police Memorial) and the Police Remembrance Trust. It brings together key elements from both charities' existing websites, including the original online Police Roll of Honour, into a single accessible online space. It provides a single point of reference for families, the policing community, and the wider public.
BTP colleagues remembered
The platform includes the names of more than 4600 offices listed on the Police Roll of Honour. There are five officers from BTP and 129 from its predecessor forces.
James Daniell, a Police Constable with London and Birmingham Railway Police, died on 28 September 1838 when he was struck by a train while on duty at Watford Station. The most recent entry is for Vassili Bogomoletz, who died of heart failure on 6 December 2005 during probationer training at Tadworth.
BTP Federation Chair, Stuart Cowan, said: “This is so much more than a list of names. The Digital Memorial really brings home the sacrifice that all police officers make when they walk into work, not knowing what they may face.
“I hope this memorial will offer comfort to families and friends and assure them that the person they have lost was valued and that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Preserving stories
The Digital Memorial marks an important step in the growing collaboration between the UK Police Memorial and the Police Remembrance Trust and reflects their shared commitment to ensuring those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice are remembered in a meaningful and lasting way.
James Slessor, Chair of the group who led the work on the Digital Memorial and Trustee of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust, said:
“The new Digital Memorial is far more than a website. It provides a single national space where remembrance, education, and the stories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice come together in a meaningful and accessible way.
“By bringing together decades of history, tribute, and service in one place, the platform will help ensure the sacrifices of fallen officers and staff are preserved and remembered for generations to come.
To explore the new Digital Memorial and learn more about the work of the UK Police Memorial and the Police Remembrance Trust, visit: https://policememorial.org.uk
Image courtesy of UK Police Memorial