West Midlands Police memorial for fallen officers

A memorial to fallen West Midlands Police officers is to be officially unveiled.

Up to 89 officers have died while on duty in Birmingham, Black Country and Coventry since 1822, the force said.

The memorial will be unveiled at its headquarters at Lloyd House on Thursday by Chief Constable Chris Sims and Police Crime Commissioner Bob Jones.

It is the first time the force has erected a memorial which brings together the names of all the officers.

The annual National Police Memorial Day service held in September pays tribute to officers killed on duty throughout the UK.

'Proud' of officers

Det Sgt Steph Bradley, whose 31-year-old brother PC Ryan Hunt died in a traffic collision while working on an investigation in South Yorkshire in 2006, will speak on behalf of the relatives who have been invited to attend the ceremony at Lloyd House.

The memorial dates back to 1822, when Wolverhampton night watchman Richard Cooke was killed after being hit on the head by a stone while intervening in a street affray, the spokesman said.

More than 30 officers lost their lives in World War II, including eight Coventry officers who died during an air raid on the city in November 1940.

Mr Sims said: "Although there are a number of local tributes across the force area in memory of officers who have lost their lives while on duty, this is the first time that a force memorial has been erected which brings together the names of all the officers.

"We are proud of these officers and it is right they should be remembered"