Met Police Hold Solemn Memorial for Fallen Officers
The annual Met Police memorial went ahead this year with reduced numbers, following strict Covid-19 safety rules. Families, friends, and colleagues gathered to honour those lost in the line of duty alongside the Met Police Commissioner and VIP guests.
Home Secretary Priti Patel Attends
Home Secretary Priti Patel was the guest of honour at the moving ceremony. Met senior chaplain Jonathan Osborne led the service, which opened with a short address from the Commissioner. The event ended with wreaths and flowers being laid at the Memorial Stone in the Met’s dedicated garden at Hendon.
Remembering Fallen Heroes Ratana and Miller
The service paid special tribute to the two most recent officers to die in the line of duty. Sergeant Matiu ‘Matt’ Ratana, 54, was fatally shot in the chest at Croydon Custody Centre on 25 September 2020. PC Christopher Miller died on 15 September 2020 after a tragic motorbike crash on his way to work in East London.
Honouring 650+ Lost Lives
Due to Covid restrictions, the event was recorded and shared with families unable to attend. Over the Met’s 193-year history, more than 650 officers and staff have died serving the public.
Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “The Met has a proud history and I feel that pride every single day when I meet with my officers and staff and hear their stories. We are all members of the wider Met family and stand together in mourning and remembering loved ones. We will always be indebted to those who have died, for the service they gave in support of others, and it is important that we gather every year to honour their contributions. We will never forget them.”
