A brand new memorial to honour the lives of all those who have served the police with Hampshire Constabulary has been unveiled at the Force’s Support and Training Headquarters.

The garden, which features a Hampshire rose sculpted fountain, prairie-style planting and seating areas, was officially opened during a special ceremony on Thursday, 23 May by Lady Avril Hoddinott, the widow of former Chief Constable Sir John Hoddinott.

The project to bring this idea to reality began in 2015 and was led by a steering group consisting of Constabulary officers and staff, the families of officers and staff who have lost their lives, the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner, Sparsholt College, the Southampton Police Club Trust Fund, the Police Federation and Unison. The garden has been funded by Hampshire Constabulary, the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Southampton Police Club Trust Fund

Garden design students from Sparsholt College in Winchester were invited to present concepts to Hampshire Constabulary as part of their academic studies.

Three finalists were considered by a group of judges including Hampshire Constabulary Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Michael Lane, Sparsholt College lecturer Chris Prior, and Detective Superintendent Paul Barton, representing the Southampton Police Club Trust Fund.