Page 4 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov 2021-flip_Neat

Chair’s introduction

Honouring the

memory of our

fallen colleagues

Last year, what would have been my each and every year.
first National Police Memorial Day service Looking around the cathedral, you can
was held virtually due to the pandemic and see husbands and wives, partners, parents,
organisers put a restriction on the number children, brothers and sisters, colleagues,
of people who could attend this year’s chief officers, Federation representatives,
service at Lincoln Cathedral. civic dignitaries and politicians pausing to
This year, standing outside the remember those who gave up their lives to
cathedral ahead of the service on what was serve their communities.
a warm and sunny September day, it was It is a moving service and particularly so
clear to see families in attendance during the minute’s silence when petals
reacquainting themselves with friends that flutter down from the vast roof-space of the
they had probably not seen in the two cathedral to signify remembrance while
years since the last service. “Abide With Me” is played and then the “Last
They all belong to a group that no one Post” is sounded.
wants to join; a group made up of the You can read more about this year’s
loved ones left behind when an officer fails service on pages 16 to 19.
to make it home after their shift. This year, due to the restrictions at the
But out of adversity, they seem to find cathedral, forces across the country also
comfort, support and life-long friendships hosted their own Acts of Remembrance the
with those who truly know how that feels. day after the service and the Force took part
The service itself is formal, and sombre, in this with a short service at Lloyd House.
but there is a real focus on the families and Then less than a week later, deputy
the need for the police service to stand branch chair John Williams and I attended a
with them, to share their grief, respect memorial service at Sutton Coldfield Police
their feelings and honour fallen officers, Station organised to mark the 20th
By Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police
Federation As a Federation, we are the first to admit that

his year, for the first time since I was “
elected as chair of West Midlands an officer who breaks the law deserves to be
TPolice Federation, I represented our punished. One bad apple really can cause
branch at the annual National Police
Memorial Day service. incredible damage and reflects badly on the
Of course, I have long appreciated the
significance of this event but attending in rest of the hard-working and committed officers
person does really bring it home to you how
important it is that we honour our fallen who want nothing more than to serve and
colleagues.
The service is not just a fitting tribute to protect their communities, upholding the law,
those officers who have paid the ultimate keeping order.
price but also serves to show their families “
that they too are not forgotten.

04 federation October/November 2021 www.polfed.org/westmids