London Met chief backs national memorial for cops killed on duty

The new commissioner of the Metropolitan Police here gave her backing Wednesday to the building of a national police memorial in Britain.

Commissioner Cressida Dick said the death of Met police officer Keith Palmer in the recent terror attack on the Houses of Parliament "makes us appreciate the fragility of the thin blue line protecting the public, but also its strength."

A major campaign is being launched to raise funds to build a new police memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Staffordshire in central England.

The NMA is the place where Britain remembers the men and women killed in the course of duty. It is home to over 330 separate memorials representing the armed forces.

Commissioner Dick said: "No comparable tribute exists there for our police service. That is why I and my colleagues throughout the Metropolitan Police are supporting the UK police memorial campaign."

Last week, on her very first day on duty as London's top cop, Commissioner Dick said a final goodbye to Constable Palmer.

"It was a sad first day as commissioner...I feel it is immensely important that we never forget those who have paid with their lives to keep us safe and protect us from harm," said Dick.

She said a national police memorial at the NMA would be a place where the nation could come together to honor the fallen and a permanent commemoration to the officers who had made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives.

Palmer was one of five people killed in the attack on Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament by Khalid Masood. Masood sped across the bridge, killing four victims and injuring dozens more. He then ran into the entrance of the Houses of Parliament and stabbed Palmer, who was unarmed.

Palmer was given the police equivalent of a state funeral, with officers from London and the rest of the country lining the route of his funeral procession. Endit