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Patron: Her  Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary 

Remembering Police Officers who Lost their Lives in the Line of Duty

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National Police Officers Roll of Honour and Remembrance

In Memory of Police Officers of the United Kingdom

who Lost their Lives in the Line of Duty

Criteria Summary

(Click here to view the Full Criteria and Explanatory Notes with examples)

SUMMARY of the CRITERIA for inclusion on the

NATIONAL POLICE OFFICERS ROLL OF HONOUR AND REMEMBRANCE

In memory of police officers of the United Kingdom who lost their lives in the line of duty as a result of
criminal acts, misadventure or accident, enemy action, natural causes and unknown causes.

'POLICE OFFICERS'

Any sworn constable or member of a police force or police authority or other peace officer engaged in a law enforcement role.

'UNITED KINGDOM'

England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland (Ireland to 1922); including Isle of Man, Channel Islands and service abroad.

'WHO LOST THEIR LIVES'

Died as result of injury received in the line of duty or duty related illness, which caused or substantially contributed to the death.

'IN THE LINE OF DUTY'

Death is a direct result of the execution of their duty or their occupation or status as a police officer. Including:-

• On duty - during a tour of duty comprising all normal lawful actions carried out on operational or non-operational duty.
• Operational Duty - actual performance of a law enforcement role, including patrol duty and training for operational duty.
• Non Operational Duty - other duties such as administration, clerical or similar duties and travelling to or from duty.
• In the execution of their duty while off duty - may include making an arrest, preventing an offence; protecting life or property, and any other circumstances where an officer may be obliged to place themselves on duty.
• As a result of duty - may include death occurring some time afterwards from the effects of an injury on duty, and while off duty but on account of current or previous status as a police officer (e.g. a revenge or terrorist attack).

'ACCIDENT' = Accidental injury attributable to unforeseen and unintended acts or circumstances.

'MISADVENTURE' = Accidental injury attributable to intended acts in the execution of an operational duty.

To assist in the analysis of fatalities and in the drawing up of individual Rolls,

Causes of Death may be Classified as follows:-

Section One - Officers killed as a result of Criminal Acts or Dangerous Duties.

1. CRIMINAL ACTS: Injury attributable to criminal acts of violence:-

a) Unlawful Killing - Homicide offences i.e. murder/manslaughter/culpable homicide.

b) Political Violence - Homicide offences resulting from insurrection or terrorist activity.

c) Act of Violence - Homicide not amounting at the time to unlawful killing.

d) Dangerous Driving - When struck by a vehicle which deliberately fails to stop for police.

2. MISADVENTURE - Dangerous Duty: Hazardous duty or acts of gallantry where there is a known special risk of danger.

Section One may be appropriate to pay special tribute to officers killed unlawfully or in the course of acts of gallantry, effecting arrests or other dangerous duties. It is adopted by the Police Memorial Trust for the National Police Memorial Roll of Honour.

Section Two - Officers killed in the Execution of Operational Duties.

Includes all classifications under Section One plus the following:

3. MISADVENTURE - Operational Duty: In the execution of other duties of a hazardous nature.

4. ACCIDENT - Operational Duty: Accidental injury sustained on routine operational duty.

5. ENEMY ACTION ON: Injury in consequence of World War I and II enemy air raids and attacks while on duty.

6. NATURAL CAUSES: Collapse, illness or disease attributable to the execution of an operational duty.

7. UNKNOWN CAUSES Operational Duty: On operational duty but where the exact cause or circumstances are unknown.

Section Two may be appropriate for a Roll of Honour of officers killed in the execution of operational duty and where names are to be inscribed on a physical memorial. This is the original criteria for the National Police Officers Roll of Honour set up in 1995.

Section Three - Officers who die by any means on or as a result of duty.

Includes all classifications under Section One and Section Two, plus the following:

8. TRAVELLING: Accidental injury sustained while travelling to and from duty.

9. ENEMY ACTION OFF: Injury in consequence of wartime air raids while off duty or duty status unknown.

10. SUDDEN DEATH: Death on duty of natural causes where there is no known contributory cause.

11. UNKNOWN CAUSES Non Operational: On duty but exact cause, circumstances and duty status are unknown.

12. SERVICE ABROAD: May include death from unknown causes, natural causes or while off duty.

Section Three may be appropriate for a fully inclusive Roll or Book of Remembrance in memory of all who have lost their lives by any means in connection with their duties. It is adopted by the National Police Memorial Day Trust for their Annual Service.

(Click here to view the full Criteria and Explanatory Notes with examples)