THE Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police has called on the public to support a new memorial honouring officers who have died in the line of duty.

A campaign has been set up between all police services around the country to raise funds for a new UK Police Memorial, set to cost £4 million.

The memorial project, which is planned for completion in 2019, will be built at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield in Staffordshire, home to more than 330 memorials.

Its design will incorporate the names of more than 1,800 police officers and staff who died from injuries they received in the course of lawful duty since the police service began, including the names of fallen officers from North Yorkshire.

Chief Constable Dave Jones said: “It takes a special sort of person to put themselves in harm’s way to protect others, but that is what members of the police family do every day. Tragically, some lose their lives in the line of duty, and this memorial will honour their courage, dedication and sacrifice.

“There is a police memorial in London, but this new structure at the National Memorial Arboretum will be a permanent place of remembrance that anyone can visit year round. Just last month we saw officers and thousands of members of the public line the route of the cortege for the funeral of PC Keith Palmer, who was murdered in the terrorist attack on Westminster. It was humbling to see that public show of support, and a reminder to our officers, staff and volunteers that people recognise the work they do to protect communities.”

Mr Jones said the memorial would be “a tribute to those who have died doing their duty”, and he hoped people would get behind campaign at ukpolicememorial.org.