In a ground-breaking initiative driven by feedback from over 200,000 stakeholders, plans are underway for a new digital remembrance programme that will illuminate the life stories of police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Collaborating with esteemed partners, the Police Remembrance Trust and Accenture, this initiative seeks to create enriched tributes accessible through an online portal.
The scope of the project is substantial, with a budget of approximately £800,000 allocated to expand and enhance the existing 4,000 citations on the Police Roll of Honour. The objective is to incorporate audio, video, imagery, and news archives, bringing together a wealth of existing material held within forces, museums, and police archives.
The digital remembrance programme will serve as a centralized point of access, complementing the vast material distributed across the 43 forces in England and Wales, as well as in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Moving into the next phase, close collaboration is anticipated with forces, police museums, and archivists who will play a pivotal role in developing enhanced tributes to fallen officers.
In early 2024, the initiative will recruit volunteer researchers to assist in compiling these enhanced tributes. These researchers will source material, craft fitting accolades, and conduct interviews with families, friends, and colleagues of the fallen.
The project extends an invitation to families and colleagues to suggest officers for whom enhanced tributes should be developed. Contributions and suggestions can be sent to info@ukpolicememorial.org.
A new website will also be developed next year that will host the digital remembrance programme. Designed with interactive features, the website aims to provide an easily navigable platform for users to search for specific officers.
Crucially, the digital remembrance programme will be intricately linked to the physical UK Police Memorial at the Arboretum. QR codes will be implemented for visitors to scan during their visit, instantly connecting them to the digital remembrance programme and displaying details of officers who lost their lives on that day.
The website will additionally facilitate remote tours of the UK Police Memorial for those unable to visit in person. A feature allowing visitors to leave messages on a tribute page will also be developed.
While these plans are undoubtedly ambitious, the project leaders acknowledge the significant time investment required. The completion of this phase is anticipated to take five to 10 years, emphasising the commitment to delivering a comprehensive and enduring tribute to the fallen heroes of the police service.
