Journalism students help to create poignant police memorial

A group of LJMU Journalism students past and present have been praised for their work on a unique collaboration with the UK Police National Memorial.

Last year it was announced that a new monument at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire will be created to commemorate more than 1,400 police officers who have died on duty while protecting the public. Alongside this physical memorial, the students also worked in close partnership with the Police Memorial Trust to create a digital-based memorial which tells the stories of those individuals lost in the line of duty. 

The digital memorial is in two parts, the first part is concerned with honour and remembrance and tells the stories of the individual officers named on the memorial. Part two is concerned with education and information. Through the use of an ‘on this day’ feature, stories and historical events associated with British policing are highlighted and brought to life. 

The memorial aims to remind the public of the past sacrifices made by so many, as well as reiterating just how valuable and brave our police force is. 

Gillian Wombwell, the widow of David Wombwell, one of three officers killed in 1966 in what became known as the Shepherd’s Bush murders, gave her thoughts on the memorial before the launch, describing the participating team of LJMU students as:

“A credit to the University and to themselves – professional and sensitive.”

Since 2016, Journalism students and the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies have been helping to provide content for the digital memorial, working alongside lecturers and police professionals to ensure continuity.

Stewart Boutcher from the UK Police Memorial said of LJMU’s contribution to the project:

"LJMU have been staunch supporters of this project for several years now. The decision to get the Journalism students involved was one that I have never regretted. Whether working on the filming and production of memorial pieces with family and colleagues of fallen officers or filming and reporting at live events – they are the epitome of professionalism and commitment. Staff should be rightly proud of the high calibre of students they are turning out, and I look forward to continuing to work with them more in the future."

Take a look at the online memorial.