Gearing Up For The Police Unity Tour

This weekend’s UK Police Unity Tour is an important event to remember fallen officers, and more family members than ever will be taking part, Hampshire Police Federation has said.

The challenging cycling route of around 180 miles will take place on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 July, arriving at the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Memorial Service at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire on Sunday 30 July.

This year is particularly special as the COPS charity is marking its 20th year of supporting the families of police officers and staff who have lost their lives on duty.

Hampshire Police Federation Chair Zoë Wakefield said: “It is so important to remember all our fallen officers, those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Also it’s really important to raise money for the Care Of Police Survivors charity, which does so much to support the families. Anyone who’s had any involvement with the COPS charity can’t speak highly enough of them.”

She continued: “We’ve got more survivors riding with us this year than ever before. We’ve got family members for PC Dan Golding, PCSO Dan Gower, PC James Drew, DC Malcolm Wiltshire and John Smith.

“And together with Thames Valley Police, we’ve got Sam Dixon and Ruth Browning, who are both riding in memory of their husbands. So it’s quite overwhelming, but it’s also really lovely that they’re cycling that distance after everything that they’ve been through. It’s going to be very emotional.”