Police World 1 2017

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5th Police
Unity Tour
Cycling for the Survivors
Rob Atkin MBE – London
The Police Unity Tour is an annual pedal cycle ride leaving the National Police Memorial on the Mall, cycling
approximately 180 miles to the National Arboretum in Staffordshire over three days. 2017 will be the fifth
annual ride from London, with numerous other rides starting throughout the UK.
T he ride is a ‘tour and not a race’ and is
suitable for those that are a reasonable
standard of cyclist. Police officers of all
ranks, police staff and family members of fallen
officers all take part in this fully supported event.
Each rider rides in memory of a police officer
killed in the line of duty. The national roll of
honour is a reminder
of our colleagues that have paid the ultimate
sacrifice across the United Kingdom. Riders
all ride for an individual officer depicted on an
engraved bracelet, which at the conclusion of the
ride they will have the opportunity to present to
the family of that officer. This is a truly humbling
experience and one that our colleagues’ families
truly appreciate.
Each rider undertakes to raise a minimum
amount of sponsorship for the charity UK Care
of Police Survivors a charity that
directly supports the
families and loved ones of officers killed in the
line of duty. The memorial service at the National
Arboretum is a truly moving event with all of the
43 UK Police Forces represented and offers a
chance for our riders to show their respects and
meet with the families to show that their loved
one will never be forgotten.
I have been an IPA member for over 20 years.
Next year will be my 5th Police Unity Tour, it
is a great event. It’s great to ride with people
from all parts of policing; serving and retired.
More importantly riding in memory of a fallen
colleague is a moving experience, particularly
when I have met the family members at the end
and presented them with the memorial bracelet
in their loved one name. I have seen first hand
the great work Care of Police Survivors does in
supporting those left behind through so it is great
to be able to raise money for a fantastic cause.
Gary Byfield, co founder and Vice President of
the UK Police Unity Tour added. “I am immensely
proud to be involved with this charity cycle ride
in aid of COPS, to support police officers and
family members killed in the line of duty. I have
participated for the past 8 years in the USA Police
Unity Tour and 5 years in the UK ride raising
funds and awareness of police officers paying
the ultimate sacrifice with their lives to protect
members of the public. We want the family
members to be recognised and remembered
for their love ones and their loss.”
Full details of the charity UK COPS can be found
at
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Article
POLICE WORLD Vol 62 No. 1, 2017