CRITERIA
for inclusion on the
National Police Officers Roll of
Honour
In remembrance of those police officers
of the United Kingdom
who have lost their lives in the line of
duty as a result of criminal acts,
misadventure or accident,
enemy action, natural causes and unknown causes
INTRODUCTION
The National Police Officers Roll of Honour is an ongoing historical record of all police officers who have been killed in the line of duty, by any means, in the United Kingdom, since the earliest days of professional law enforcement more than three centuries ago. The office of constable is an ancient one and for several centuries was a duty carried out by ordinary citizens as locally appointed but unpaid Parish Constables, gradually supplemented by various other peace officers.
The first professional law enforcement officers followed the English Civil War and restoration of the Monarchy in the reign of Charles II (1660-85) with the formation of a paid Night-Watch. The Watchmen or "Charleys" were much maligned but often paid the ultimate price carrying out their duties. In the mid 18th century the Bow Street Patrol (known as 'Runners') was formed in London and in 1792 the first statutory salaried Constables were attached by Act of Parliament to Police Offices throughout London.
After this Parliament began to pass local Acts, notably the Glasgow Police Act of 1800, allowing local authorities to begin employing full time constables. Sir Robert Peel began his police reforms in Ireland, which joined the UK in 1801, with the formation of the Peace Preservation Force in 1814. His formation of the Metropolitan Police in 1829 saw the start of modern policing in England and Wales.
How many of the earlier peace officers died in the execution of their duty is unknown but the first recorded death in the "Proceedings of the Old Bailey" dates from 1680 with the killing of a Constable whose name was not recorded.
The Roll of Honour archive records details of each officer's name, age, rank and force, date, place and circumstances of death, and any posthumous honours or bravery awards; also recorded where available is their service history, personal and family details and photographs of the officer and any memorials.
In considering these criteria reference has been made to police pensions regulations, coroners courts rules, and existing UK and foreign police rolls of honour. Each case will normally require two independent sources of information for verification, except in the case of official records where one source may suffice. Each case will be treated individually and on its own merits and will not be accepted onto the Roll unless these criteria are satisfied. However, while maintaining the overall principle that the death should have occurred in the line of duty, the Roll aims to be inclusive rather than exclusive. Where there is doubt about an officer's eligibility, for the sake of the officer's family and colleagues, the benefit of that doubt will generally go towards their inclusion.
DEFINITIONS
When considering names for inclusion the following will apply:
'POLICE OFFICERS'
Any sworn constable or constable in training and any regular or auxiliary officer serving as a member of a police force (including the former police fire brigades) and retired officers whose injuries were received as a result of their police service. Un-sworn police staff members, for example explosives officers, community support officers, traffic wardens and police cadets, may be included providing they die under operational circumstances. Deaths of law enforcement officers prior to the modern police service are also included e.g. parish constables, night watch and other peace officers appointed by local authorities.
'UNITED KINGDOM'
Includes England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and UK officers temporarily seconded abroad. Southern Ireland is included while it was part of the UK from 1801 to 1922. Also included are the Crown dependencies of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
'WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES'
Died as a direct or proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty, the injury causing or substantially contributing to the death. An illness or disease may be classed as an injury if arising from an external physical cause or contracted in the course of duty.
'IN THE LINE OF DUTY'
Death is
a direct result of the performance of their duties or their occupation as a
police officer.
The circumstances of the death should be directly related to
their police duties and not incidental to them - had they not been a police
officer would they have died when and in the manner they did?
Includes on duty and in
the execution of their duty or as a result of duty whether on duty or
not.
On duty means during a tour of duty and
comprises all normal lawful actions carried out as part of one's duty as a
police officer including routine patrol. It does not include some activities undertaken by choice not subject to an
obligation of duty e.g. playing sports. It does not include deaths
resulting from an officer's own gross negligence or misconduct.
In the execution of
their duty while off duty may include incidents
involving:
i. The arrest or
attempted arrest of a suspected offender;
ii. The prevention of
an offence;
iii. Saving life or attempting a rescue;
iv. Travelling to and from duty.
v. In other
circumstances where the person would be obliged by law, police regulations or
common practice to place themselves on duty
As a result of duty may include:
i. Death occurring
some time after the event from the effects of an injury on duty;
ii. While off duty but on account of being a police officer
(e.g. a revenge or terrorist attack);
iii. An injury received after retirement but on account of
previous status as a police officer; (Injury would not have been received had
one not been known to have been a police officer).
CLASSIFICATION
All cases will be treated equally however, to assist in the analysis of fatalities and in the compiling of individual Rolls that may have differing criteria, the causes of death can be classified as follows:
1.
CRIMINAL ACT :- A.
Unlawful Killing
B.
Political Violence.
C. Other Act of Violence.
D. Dangerous Driving.
2. MISADVENTURE :- Duty involving Special Risks.
3. ACCIDENT :- A. Accident on Routine Duty.
B. Travelling
to and from duty.
4. ENEMY ACTION :- World War I and II Enemy Air Raids.
5. NATURAL
CAUSES :- A.
Death from natural causes contributed to by the performance
of a
particular duty.
B. Other sudden death on duty.
6. UNKNOWN CAUSES :- A. Death is from an unknown cause.
B. Suspicious.
C. Open
-The evidence does not fully disclose how the cause of death
arose resulting
in an inquest
returning an open verdict.
1. CRIMINAL ACTS
A. Unlawful Killing - homicide offences; i.e. where there is a charge or inquest verdict of Murder or Manslaughter (including culpable homicide in Scotland).
B. Political Violence - namely homicide resulting from insurrection or terrorist activity.
C. Act of Violence - not at the time amounting to unlawful killing; e.g.:
1) Where death occurred over a year and a day after the injury resulting in death was inflicted.
2) Where the cause of death was the result of an injury attributable to a crime of violence, or such an injury contributed to the cause of death, but a homicide offence was not substantiated due to insufficient evidence as to: a) cause of death, b) criminal intent of the suspect.
3) Where a suspect was charged with a homicide offence but no evidence was offered and charges withdrawn or he was acquitted on the grounds of accident or self defence or other grounds where there was insufficient evidence to substantiate a homicide offence.
D. Dangerous Driving - death by dangerous or reckless driving, drunk driving or vehicle manslaughter resulting from road traffic collisions where an officer is attempting to stop the offending vehicle or is deliberately struck by the vehicle.
(The result of any legal/criminal proceedings may be published but names and personal details of suspects and offenders will not generally be included.)
2. MISADVENTURE
Death resulting from accidental injury incurred in the performance of an act of gallantry or a duty involving special risks; e.g.
1) Saving life or other courageous conduct.
2) The arrest or attempted arrest of a suspect.
3) The prevention of an offence.
4) Traffic stops or road-blocks.
5) Vehicle pursuits.
6) Responding to emergency calls.
7) Controlling traffic.
8) Assisting at the scene of accidents or breakdowns.
9) Otherwise acting in the protection of persons or
property.
3. ACCIDENT
A. Accident on Routine Duty.
Death resulting from unforeseen accidental injury incurred while on routine duty; e.g.
1) Road
traffic accidents on routine patrol.
2)
Falls while on routine patrol.
3)
Accidents
on other routine duty.
4) During
training including compulsory physical training but not voluntary sports
activities.
B. Travelling to and from duty.
In line with police pension regulations, "in the execution of duty" includes while on a journey necessary to enable the officer to report for duty or to return home after duty. In the 19th century and for much of the 20th century officers were obliged to wear full uniform when travelling to and from duty and were visibly available to assist the public as police officers. While modern practices and transport usually mean travelling officers are less visible, to all intents and purposes they remain available for immediate duty and current regulations have retained the 'on duty' status while travelling. The journey should be a direct one immediately before or after duty to qualify under this classification.
Officers recalled to duty for a special purpose are effectively on duty as soon as they leave home and such cases will be classed as actually on duty rather than travelling. e.g. turning out to an incident, or reporting for duty during an enemy air raid.
4. ENEMY ACTION
Death from injury sustained as a result of wartime enemy air raids, during both World Wars. Data sources include Force War Rolls and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Civilian War Dead Roll. The latter includes occupations of those involved in Civil Defence work but does not indicate whether they were on or off duty at the time of their deaths, and it has not been possible to ascertain the duty status of many officers killed in wartime.
During enemy air raids it was common for off duty police officers to report for duty or to assist locally with Civil Defence work, thereby placing themselves on duty, and those identified as such are contained in the main Roll of Honour. It is known that a number of police officers lost their lives in such circumstances but it is impossible to know how many; for this reason all officers who are known to have been off duty or have not been identified as on duty may be listed in an abbreviated form as an unknown number may have also died in such circumstances.
5. NATURAL CAUSES
A. Sudden death from natural causes and deaths from illness or disease are included where the performance of a particular duty may have contributed to the death;
e.g. a collapse or heart attack brought on by physical exertion involving -
1) Arrest of suspect or prevention of offence;
2) The protection of life or property;
3) Compulsory physical training.
Deaths from illness or disease directly relating to an accidental injury or an act of violence and in close proximity to it may be shown under those classifications.
B. Other sudden death on non-operational duties is not automatically included, but in being inclusive rather than exclusive, the benefit of the doubt may go towards the inclusion of any sudden death on duty.
6. UNKNOWN CAUSES
A. Unknown cause.
Death recorded as a result of injury on duty but the exact cause and/or circumstances are unknown.
B. Suspicious.
If suspected as being attributable to a criminal act of violence.
C. Open.
Death occurring on duty but the evidence does not fully disclose how the cause of death arose resulting in an inquest returning an open verdict; e.g. found drowned or fatally injured in suspicious circumstances where the facts cannot be ascertained.
UNCONFIRMED CASES
In circumstances where an officer died of unnatural causes while serving and death may have occurred in the line of duty but the facts are unconfirmed. This may be due to the date of death or name of the deceased being unknown, or lack of corroboration of a reported death, or it is not known if it occurred on or as a result of duty. While not included on the final Roll the details will be recorded pending further information.
SUICIDE
Cases of suicide where an inquest found that a person took their own life will not be included except where the death is a direct result of and substantially contributed to by an injury on duty. E.g. where the death was caused by insanity or other mental illness or severe depression resulting from the effects of an injury on duty. Where such cases are included they may be classified in relation to the original injury.
MILITARY DEATHS
Details of deaths on wartime military service will be collated, if received, but at this time do not form part of the National Police Officers Roll of Honour. Generally details are already accessible on military memorials and Rolls of Honour.
COLONIAL POLICE
Details of deaths of British officers while serving in a Colonial Police Force will be collated, if received, but at this time do not form part of the National Police Officers Roll of Honour.
(This criteria has been adopted for the National Police Memorial Day Roll of Honour)
Last updated 10th December 2006
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Police Roll of Honour Trust
Registered Charity No. 1081637
enquiries@policememorial.org.uk