New memorial for officers killed on duty
All three main party leaders attended this morning’s unveiling of a new central London memorial honouring the thousands of police officers killed in the line of duty.
The Queen unveiled the Norman Foster and Per Arnoldi-designed marble and glass column, which contains the names of 1,600 officers and is positioned in The Mall.
It is the culmination of a ten-year campaign for a tribute to police killed on duty, orchestrated by film director Michael Winner.
He has called for a memorial ever since he established the police memorial trust after the shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in 1984.
The families of police officers killed in the line of duty were “delighted” by the remembrance, Mr Winner said.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, he said: “20 years ago I was deeply moved by the senseless murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher.
“It seemed unfair the police had no public memorials to commemorate their bravery when they faced danger every day. So I formed the police memorial trust to place memorials to officers slain on duty at the spot where they died to pay tribute to them and to the police of our nation.”
A constable from every UK police force and the families of every officer listed on the roll of honour were invited to today’s ceremony.
