News
HRH attends a service to mark National Police Memorial Day at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool
27th September 2008
The Prince of Wales joined more than a thousand people in Liverpool today, to pay tribute to the lives of police officers who died in the line of duty.
The Prince of Wales and the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith joined senior police officers and the families of fallen officers for a cathedral service to mark National Police Memorial Day.
The Prince was welcomed at Liverpool Cathedral by an honour guard of 41 police horses from 11 forces.
The Prince is Patron of the National Police Memorial Day and Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, is Patron of the Police Roll of Honour Trust, which organised today's service and keeps a roll of honour of every officer who dies on duty.
In his address, the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, said police officers put themselves at risk on behalf of the community and often sacrifice their lives for the sake of others.
He added: "We should not acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice of the police without at the same time identifying the pressures that we as a society place the police under."
Later four candles were lit representing the police forces of the four countries of the United Kingdom.
A scroll with the names of all the officers on the Police Roll of Honour was then presented to The Prince by Mary Henry, the widow of Pc John Henry, of Bedfordshire Police.
Pc Henry was responding to an incident on Luton High Street when he was stabbed on 11th June last year.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "It is right that once a year we stop and take time to remember those people who dedicate their lives to the police service and have lost their lives."
After the service The Prince met the families of fallen officers.
Among them was Pc Kate Parker, whose husband, Pc Andrew Parker of North Wales Police, was killed in a road traffic accident three years ago.
She joined her husband's force last year.
Pc Parker, accompanied by her children George, six, and William, seven, said: "The service was absolutely perfect and I'm very, very proud today.
"I can't thank the organisers enough for what they have done to help families like mine."
Pc Parker said she was inspired to join the police in memory of her husband.
She added: "The Prince asked me how I coped and I told him we take it day-by-day but the support we have had from Andrew's colleagues and the Roll of Honour Trust has been phenomenal.
"That is another reason why I wanted to join the police."
The Prince joked with Pc Parker that she should keep an eye out for his son, Prince William, when the young royal moves to North Wales next year for search and rescue training with the RAF.
Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said: "It was a very moving service in a very, very beautiful cathedral.
"I am very proud this annual service has taken hold because police officers, every time they go out of the door, risk their lives and it is only right that we remember them and their families."
Corrie Methven, the widow of Pc Christopher Methven, of Grampian Police, lit a candle during the service to represent the police forces of Scotland.
Pc Methven died of a brain tumour earlier this year.
Mrs Methven, 35, a mother of two from Aberdeen, said: "It is important to me to come to something like this because it reminds us the police is a family and my boys and I are not alone.
"The Prince asked me about Christopher and I told him it is still very raw and we're taking it day by day.
"I told him how proud I am of my husband."
The Trust was started by Pc Joe Holness after his colleague at Kent Police was killed while carrying out road safety checks.
It has brought together more than 20 years of research to create the national Roll of Honour for fallen police officers.