THIS\u00a0year\u2019s National Police Memorial Day was a particularly poignant one for South Yorkshire Police officers.<\/p>\n
They joined thousands of other officers from across the force to remember fallen colleagues at the event, held this year at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.\u00a0The force lost PC David Fields on Christmas Day last year following a road collision.\u00a0\u201cDavid\u00a0was honoured at the event, so it has a special significance for us this year,\u201d said SYPF Treasurer\u00a0Dave Baines (pictured).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Memorial Day is so important because we recognise the work that people put in every day of the week and all the unsung heroes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about the fact that officers put their lives on the line every day. They go out on patrol and they just don\u2019t know what they\u2019re going to meet.”<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, we lose officers and that\u2019s why we should be here to honour them,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are one police family, we stand firm together and we put on a united front.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ceremony was led by Reverend Canon David Wilbraham, National Police Chaplain, and was described by Home Secretary Sajid Javid as \u201can important and poignant reminder of the courage shown by the police each and every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Candles from each of the four nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, were lit by loved ones to remind us of the undying flame of devotion and commitment, exemplified by those whom we remembered today.<\/p>\n
Mark Lindsay, Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, read the names of the officers who have died in the last year:\u00a0 Constable Steven Richard Jenkins, Gwent Police: Constable John Alcock, Grampian Police: Constable James Dixon, Thames Valley Police: Constable David Fields, South Yorkshire Police.<\/p>\n
Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland George Hamilton said: \u201cThe National Police Memorial Day is a fitting tribute to police officers everywhere who have died in the course of their duties to protect the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important and indeed only right that we take time to pause to remember our colleagues and friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives on duty protecting their communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a privilege for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to have been able to welcome so many visitors to Belfast for this year’s National Police Memorial Day.”<\/p>\n