National Police Chaplain
Thank you for all your continuing work and commitment to officers and staff in forces across the UK especially over these past months when the Service has faced particular demands, challenges and pressures.
On 28th July 2021, the new UK Police Memorial was dedicated at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, in the presence of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.
This beautiful and iconic memorial honours the courage and sacrifice of members of the UK Police Service who have dedicated their lives to protecting all of us. Thank you to all who helped organise local events to tie in with the Dedication of the new Police Memorial.
More information can be found on their website
As a more normal routine begins to return following the restrictions of the pandemic it has been a privilege to represent Police Chaplaincy at several conferences and ‘fly the flag’ for the excellent work done by Police Chaplains across the country. These have included conferences of the Police Federation, National Association of Retired Police Officers [NARPO], Police Superintendents Association [PSA] and the British Transport Police Federation conference. As well as giving the opportunity for me to speak about Police Chaplaincy the conferences allow delegates to speak about their own experience of chaplaincy in action at a local level. Your work does not go unnoticed, and the reputation of chaplaincy is high and its contribution valued. Later this month I shall attend the Ministry of Defence Police Conference and, with others, the joint summit of the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners [APCC] and National Police Chiefs Council [NPCC]. This summit is always worthwhile and gives the opportunity to meet senior leaders within the Police. The past twelve months has seen a considerable change in Chief Constables and, following the elections in May, around two thirds change in Police & Crime Commissioners. Do pray for them and make yourselves known at a local level as chaplaincy teams perhaps inviting them to join you at a local chaplaincy meeting.
Resources: One of the things I am regularly asked is to supply various resources for Chaplains to use in their day-to-day business and ministry. This includes role descriptions for chaplains, Service Orders, prayers & reflections, etc etc. This is a good thing and the more we can make such resources available then the more useful the website library will become.
If you have useful documents or links to sources that could be helpful to other colleagues, then please do send them in so they can be made available more widely. If you then subsequently use something, improve it or amend it then remember to send the revised version back in to add to the collection!
