Service remembers fallen officers

Home Secretary Theresa May has joined hundreds of police to remember officers who have died on duty, including the two Pcs killed two weeks ago in Greater Manchester.

Dozens of chief constables packed into York Minster, together with colleagues of all ranks and the families of officers who have died, for a service to mark National Police Memorial Day.

Speaking as he arrived outside The Minster, the chief constable of Greater Manchester, Sir Peter Fahy, said the recent deaths of Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes in the Mottram area of his force made the day even more poignant.

He said: "It does give it a special poignancy because it's close after the deaths of Fiona and Nicola but the important thing today really is remembering all the officers who have given their lives during the year. I cannot tell you how much we have been uplifted by the public response, it has been quite extraordinary. It really does show the level of support for ordinary officers going about their day to day business."

Sir Peter said: "We try to remember all of those officers and also tell their families that the sacrifice of a loved one is not forgotten and that is a really important part of the service today."

Among the other officers remembered by the 2,000 people inside The Minster was Pc Ian Dibell, who was killed near his home in Clacton, Essex, while intervening in a row in July. He was not on duty at the time.

Mrs May read a prayer during the service as did Emma Barker - the young daughter of Pc Bill Barker who died when a bridge was washed away during floods in Workington, Cumbria, in 2009.

Shortly before, the names of all officers who had given their lives in the last year were read out, including Pc David Rathband, who took his own life after he was blinded by fugitive gunman Raoul Moat.