“A very meaningful day for police survivors’ families”

THE Care of Police Survivors Service of Remembrance is a “great opportunity for serving officers to pay their respects and to show their support for families who pay the ultimate sacrifice.”

John Ainsworth, Secretary of Lancashire Police Federation, was among more than 700 people to attend this year’s COPS Service of Remembrance on Sunday 26 July. Pictured are the Lancashire Police contingent.

“It’s a very special day, a very meaningful day for survivors’ families,” said Mr Ainsworth (pictured right).

“It’s a very important event that the Federation also supports through charitable donations

“For the families find this an extremely important event. They have it in their calendar every year and it’s something they look forward to and I think they take a lot of spirit from it.”

Surviving family members and serving police officers gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum to remember officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

Steve Finnigan, Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary, (pictured centre) said: “We all understand how important it is for us to remember fallen colleagues. Police officers do a wonderful job every day, and thankfully not that many pay the ultimate price.

“But regrettably some do, and it’s absolutely right and proper that we come together, at least annually, and often more regularly than that, to just spend a bit of time thinking about the contribution they’ve made and, of course, the sacrifice that they’ve made.

“And it’s lovely that families are able to come and talk to serving colleagues and just do a little bit of reminiscing, spend some quiet, contemplative time thinking about people who have kept the community safe and during that work have paid the ultimate price.”