Cambridgeshire officers are being urged to help the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust to create a pioneering new online tribute to fallen colleagues.
Federation chair Liz Groom is calling on members to complete a short survey on behalf of the trust that will help to shape the development of the new digital memorial, which will accompany the UK Police Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.
Liz said: “We all feel deeply that the courage and dedication of police officers who make the ultimate sacrifice on duty should never be forgotten. The memorial in Staffordshire is therefore highly poignant and important to us.
“I’m delighted that trustees are developing a virtual memorial to extend the reach to those who cannot attend in person, and I am urging all our members to complete the short survey – it only takes a couple of minutes and is for a good cause.”
The trust funded the physical police memorial at the Staffordshire site and sees a digital memorial as the next step. Those accessing the website would see an ‘on this day’ tribute which highlights the names of officers who died on a particular day and search for an officer by name, force, date of death and rank.
Enhanced tributes will be developed that tell the personal stories of those behind the badge including interviews with family, friends and colleagues, access to news archives and personal photographs.
Martin Hewitt, chair of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trustees, said: “Working with our partner, the Police Roll of Honour Trust, the digital memorial will give visitors access to the records of almost 5,000 police officers who have dedicated their lives to policing, from as far back as the Bow Street Runners in 1749.
“However, we need the help of the service, the wider policing family and the general public to help us develop the next stage. We want to hear from you about what you would like to see on the digital memorial and how you and visitors may wish to use it.”
People can participate and contribute to the consultation process by completing an online survey.