THE county's top cop has paid his respects to police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Essex Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington attended the unveiling of a new UK police memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
He said: “Our officers bravely put their safety at risk every day to protect others and keep their communities safe.
Essex Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington
“The heroism of those who have made the greatest sacrifice while on duty will forever be remembered and we hold both them and their families dearly in our hearts.”
The 12-metre-tall brass tribute has been designed to be a place of remembrance for police officers and staff who have died in service.
The 12m-high brass tribute
Since 1749 and the establishment of the Bow Street Runners as the country’s first recognised police force, almost 5,000 officers and staff have died while policing our communities – more than 1,500 through acts of violence.
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