The then Home Secretary, Priti Patel, attends a service marking the first anniversary of the UK Police Memorial.

Photo courtesy of Anderson Photography.

Dyfed Powys officers are being urged to help the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust to create a pioneering new online tribute to fallen colleagues.

Federation chair Gareth Jones is calling on members to complete a short survey on behalf of the trust that will help to shape the development of the new digital memorial which will accompany the UK Police Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Gareth said: “The national police memorial is hugely important to all of us. We must ensure that colleagues who pay the ultimate price for wearing the uniform are never forgotten but are remembered and celebrated.

“I think the idea of digital memorial is a fantastic way to extend the reach of the memorial to those who are unable to make the journey to England, so I would urge colleagues to take a few minutes to complete the survey and help this vital project.”

Those accessing the digital memorial website would see an ‘on this day’ tribute which highlights the names of officers who died on a particular day and search for an officer by name, force, date of death and rank.

Enhanced tributes will be developed that tell the personal stories of those behind the badge including interviews with family, friends and colleagues, access to news archives and personal photographs.

Martin Hewitt, chair of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trustees, said: “Working with our partner, the Police Roll of Honour Trust, the Digital Memorial will give visitors access to the records of almost 5,000 police officers who have dedicated their lives to policing, from as far back as the Bow Street Runners in 1749.

“However, we need the help of the service, the wider policing family and the general public to help us develop the next stage. We want to hear from you about what you would like to see on the digital memorial and how you and visitors may wish to use it.”

People can participate and contribute to the consultation process by completing an online survey.