“Generous gentleman” remembered at Parliamentary event

POLITICIANS and police officers gathered in Westminster to celebrate the life of an “outstanding” officer and Federation chairman at an event dedicated to his memory.

The inaugural Paul McKeever (pictured) Memorial Lecture – which was delivered by Europol Director Rob Wainwright  – focused on dealing with cross-border crime and saw senior officers, politicians and staff association representatives among the guests.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Superintendents’ Association President Irene Curtis and current Fed Chairman Steve Williams were among those who joined Mr McKeever’s widow Charmian and daughter Henrietta at the House of Commons.

Home Affairs Select Committee Chairman Keith Vaz – who organised the event with the backing of the Metropolitan Police Federation – opened by paying tribute to Mr McKeever’s achievements.

Mr Vaz said: “This lecture is a fitting tribute to an outstanding police officer. Anybody who met Paul McKeever could not fail to have been moved by his compassion and humanity – but more than anything else, his total commitment to policing.

“It was therefore a huge shock for all of his family, friends and those of us in Parliament who knew him so well that he died on January 17 this year – two weeks before his retirement.

“His legacy was to leave a very important organisation as a strong and effective voice of policing – he piloted the Federation through tumultuous times and I think he was one of the most outstanding public speakers that I have ever seen on a platform.”

Metropolitan Police Federation Chairman John Tully said: “Paul was generous and a gentleman who loved being a police officer and always spoke from his heart. He was taken from us too soon. He loved being part of the greatest police service in the world.”