THE Police Service must always pay its respects to the \u201cwonderful, courageous individuals\u201d who have died in the line of duty.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the view of South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair-Elect Zuleika Payne, who was attending the 13th National Police Memorial Day at St Paul\u2019s Cathedral in London on 25 September.<\/p>\n
Officers and family members from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were joined at the service by Prince Charles, who is patron of the event, and Home Secretary Amber Rudd.<\/p>\n
Zuleika said: \u201cThis is such an important day for the police organisation because we pay our respects to those wonderful, courageous individuals who joined an organisation because they wanted to make a difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey wanted to protect and serve, and put something back into society, into their local communities, but sadly they paid the ultimate price.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s too tragic for words, but it\u2019s so important that these incredible individuals will never be forgotten.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s lovely to get people together \u2013 the families, the friends, the loved ones who all feel the pain having suffered the loss of these very special people. So we must do this every year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuleika also said the event was crucial to remind the general public about the good work that police officers do and the bravery officers show every day when they go about their duty.<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cSociety has changed so much and we seem to be battling against criticism and negativity, and so much of it isn\u2019t justified.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that we pay our respects to people who lost their lives having committed themselves to this organisation and very unique line of work where, actually, there\u2019s an awful lot of good.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much talent, there\u2019s so much good intent from these officers, who sometimes are very badly supported, sometimes receive criticism that people cannot justify, and sometimes that\u2019s just through a lack of understanding about the way the police work and how we do business.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut remember that these officers are always there to answer a call, they\u2019re always there in people\u2019s time of need and distress, despite battling against negativity and criticism, and that takes a pretty stoic individual.\u201d<\/p>\n