Campaigners are celebrating after securing funding for a long-awaited lasting tribute to police officers who died in the course of their duties.
An announcement was made at Twitter HQ in London on Tuesday to confirm the planned 2021 opening of a physical Police Memorial.
Merseyside Police officers were among those in attendance at the launch of the Digital Police Memorial, which features the work of JMU Journalism students.
Based at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, the aim of the new sculpture is to honour the men and women of the United Kingdom’s Police Service who consistently put themselves on the line a daily basis, especially those who have lost their lives on the job.
Jon Roy, the Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, was particularly passionate about the memorial. He told JMU Journalism: “It’s incredibly important at any time of year to represent the courage and sacrifice of police officers.
“All the courage and sacrifice shown by police officers and staff, serving others and in the communities and continuing to put themselves in harm’s way every single day, should be honoured.”
YouTube: Stephen Rawlinson
The stories of hundreds of fallen officers, including PC David Phillips of the Merseyside force who lost his life four years ago, will be on display with video and audio interviews with family members on the supporting Police Digital Memorial.
A married dad-of-two, PC Phillips was a victim of a hit-and-run in Wallasey in 2015 when a vehicle he was attempting to stop hit and killed him.
The Journalism department from Liverpool John Moores University have been heavily involved with the creation of the digital memorial.
Both past and present students filmed families around the country to hear their stories and create a platform for them to honour their loved ones, as part of a partnership between the UK Police Memorial and LJMU.
Professor Rachel McLean, Director of LJMU’s Screen School, told JMU Journalism: “I am really proud we have been given the opportunity to launch this worthwhile project.
“To see them here tonight interviewing the people involved here highlights the passion our students have for helping others.”
Twitter: Jack Prescott
@JMUJournalism students who attended the @ukpmemorial launch today along with alumni @kerrynorman_ pic.twitter.com/DYRHq0JOTa
— Jack Prescott (@JPrescottJourn) November 12, 2019