AUGUST 2022 marked the 10th Anniversary of the UK Police Unity Tour. The primary purpose of the Police Unity Tour is to raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty, but also to raise funds for Care of Police Survivors (COPS), a UK charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have lost their lives on duty. The UK Police Unity Tour has now raised over £1.1 MILLION for the Care of Police Survivors charity since the start of the tour. Dyfed-Powys Police officers have raised in the region of £4,000 so far this year.

Cyclists participating in local chapters from throughout the UK take on the challenge of cycling a route from their region. Dyfed Powys officers were joined by other Welsh forces and rode a challenging route of approximately 180 miles, finishing at the National Memorial Arboretum, a national site of remembrance in Lichfield, Staffordshire to coincide with The Care of Police Survivors Annual Service of Remembrance.

Twelve officers from Dyfed-Powys Police participated – PC Andrew Smart, Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cockwell, DCI Llyr Williams, DCI Jon Rees, Superintendent Huw Davies, Detective Superintendent Jayne Butler, Detective Sergeant Kevin Allen, PC Mark Thomas, Sergeant Emily Davies, Sergeant Sarah Evans, Inspector Gwyndaf Bowen and PC Jon Halliday.

This year the team had the privilege of being joined by members of fallen officer DC 504 Roger Meyrick’s family – his wife Frances, daughter Laurie, son David, daughter in law Tiffany, and grandchildren William and Ella. This is the first time that the Dyfed-Powys Police chapter had a police survivors family at the service with them, which made it all the more poignant.

DC Roger Meyrick was a Pembrokeshire drugs officer, who tragically died on October 18th 1990 in a fatal road traffic collision whilst on duty with three other colleagues from the force. He was 37 years old at the time of his death, and left behind a wife and three children. He was a keen sportsman who loved to spend time outdoors with his family.

Roger Meyrick’s daughter Laurie thanked the officers after the service: “You will always be very special to us for riding in memory of my Dad. We have loved every minute we have spent with you all. The kindness and dedication you have shown to not only my family and my Dad, but to all fallen officers and their families too means so much.”

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cockwell added: “The team are proud to be a part of the Police Unity Tour again this year, and were humbled by the opportunity to ride for those who died. It was even more special to meet DC Roger Meyrick’s family and to share the experience with them, remembering Roger as both a loved family member and as a Dyfed Powys officer. The COPS charity provides such a valuable service to survivors, as they aim to ensure that survivors have all the help they need to cope with such a tragedy, and that they remain part of the police family as they rebuild their lives. The charity also provides that reassurance to serving officers that if the worst was to happen, there is an organisation that will continue to support their family”

Further information about the charity can be found on their website https://ukcops.org/ and there is still time to give to this important cause – just go to this Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Dyfed-Powys-Police-Cyclists2