About the Memorial

Crafted from elegant, perforated bronze and stone, the structure is both contemporary and timeless, symbolising strength, resilience, and sacrifice. It represents a place for remembrance and reflection, reinforcing the memorial’s solemn and contemplative nature.

Standing 30 meters high, this striking tribute to policing is partially visible from the Arboretum Visitors’ Centre. As visitors approach, passing through a wildflower meadow along a pathway edged with descriptive text and the distinctive Sillitoe Tartan—symbolic of policing— the Memorial gradually reveals itself. The Memorial is marked by a tall doorway supporting a brass screen, representing the threshold to the dangerous places that officers go towards but from which some never return.

Leaf-shaped gilt-edged apertures in the screen symbolise absence and loss, and as the sun passes through them the paved surface below is illuminated by this gilded absence. An open lawn, with occasional bench seating and a leaf-shaped stage, provides a space for ceremonies and quiet reflection. Encircling the Memorial, a simple yet striking ring of trees creates a sense of protection and enclosure, just as the police service protects us all.