National Police Memorial (United Kingdom) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Police Memorial |
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| Police Memorial Trust & Police Roll of Honour Trust | |
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| For UK police officers killed in the execution of their duty | |
| Unveiled | 26 April 2005 |
| Location | 51°30′20.67″N 00°7′48.23″W / 51.5057417°N 0.1300639°W London, SW1
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| Designed by | Lord Norman Foster and Per Arnoldi |
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The National Police Memorial: Honouring Those who Serve
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The National Police Memorial is a special place in central London. It remembers about 4,000 police officers from across the United Kingdom. These officers sadly lost their lives while doing their duty. The memorial was designed by Lord Foster and Per Arnoldi. It was officially opened in 2005.
Contents
Why We Need a Police Memorial
In 1984, a film director named Michael Winner started the Police Memorial Trust. This happened after a police officer, Yvonne Fletcher, was shot. At first, the Trust put up smaller monuments. These were placed where officers had died while on duty.
By the mid-1990s, the Trust wanted a bigger memorial. They worked hard to raise money for one large monument. This monument would remember all police officers who died serving their country. Michael Winner said that soldiers, sailors, and airmen have memorials. He felt police officers, who fight a "war with no beginning and no end," should too.
Michael Winner gave £500,000 of his own money. The rest of the £2.3 million cost came from public donations. People all over the UK helped to pay for this important memorial.
Designing and Building the Memorial
The memorial was built by Lord Foster and Danish designer Per Arnoldi. It stands on a corner of The Mall and Horse Guards Road. This spot is right outside the Old Admiralty Building in London.
On July 22, 2004, a special event took place. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, Michael Winner, and police officers broke ground. This ceremony marked the start of construction. Officers from the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police were there. These forces had lost the most officers in the line of duty.
The memorial was officially opened on April 26, 2005. Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Tony Blair attended the ceremony. Other important political leaders were also present. A guard of honour was formed by 56 officers. They wore the uniforms of every police force in the UK.
The Queen spoke about the memorial. She said it was fitting for it to be on The Mall. This area is often linked to Britain's national life. She hoped people would pause and think about the brave traditions it represents. The Queen believed the courage and sacrifice remembered there would inspire everyone.
The memorial cost less than expected to build. It came in £400,000 under budget. This was partly because some companies did their work for free. The memorial also won an award in 2006. It received the Royal Institute of British Architects award.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The memorial has two main parts. They are connected by a stone terrace. One part is a black, rectangular area. It is covered in climbing plants, except for one side. This clear side has the police badge and the words: "The National Police Memorial: Honouring Those Who Serve." This side also has a special display case. Inside this case, you can see the Roll of Honour.
Next to this black block is a tall glass column. It stands in a pool of water that reflects light. The column glows with a soft blue light from inside. This blue light reminds people of the blue lamps that used to hang outside police stations. The column is 7.4 meters (about 24 feet) tall. It is made of 622 stacked sheets of glass. It weighs 28.6 tonnes, which is like 28 large cars!
The Roll of Honour
The memorial holds the UK Police Roll of Honour. This is a special book behind a glass panel. It lists about 4,000 officers. These are officers who died while on duty. This includes those who died while making an arrest or doing dangerous tasks. The earliest name in the book is Watchman Isaac Smith, who died in 1680. The book is put together by the Police Roll of Honour Trust. It lists every officer who has died while serving their country.
Images for kids
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Manchester Police Sgt Charles Brett (1867)
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Sergeants Tucker and Bentley and PC Choate (1910)
