The Met's Hindu Police Officers attend Washington Memorial Service
(15 May 2009)

Hindu officers from the Metropolitan Police attended the recent memorial service held in Washington DC to remember police colleagues killed in the line of duty as part of National Police Week 2009. This was the first time that Hindu officers had represented the Met Police at this global law enforcement event. They went to support colleagues in the US and to promote the work of the UK Charity COPS (Care of Police Survivors).

Detective Constable Bhimji Vekaria, who is based at Scotland Yard and former chair of the MPS Hindu Association, and Raj Patel, a Special Constable based at Harrow were amongst a group of 17 Met officers who flew to Washington to take part this annual event which was attended by approximately 30,000 officers from around the world.

The Met officers attended various memorial events during the week including the Washington Police Memorial Service, a candlelit vigil held at the National Law Enforcement Memorial culminating in National Police Memorial Day at Capitol Hill on 15 May when officers from around the world gather to pay their respects to their fallen colleagues and to show their support for their families and loved ones.

DC Vekaria, who organised the delegation from the MPS said: "Around the world police officers in every country risk their lives to keep us safe every day of the year. It is really important to remember that the police are part of a global family. As a Hindu officer, this event game us a chance to share good practice, promote Hinduism and raise awareness of diversity within the Met Police.

"We were privileged to have been invited to this event by our US colleagues and to meet officers from across the globe. It was incredibly moving to meet the families and being selected to perform the Guard for the Memorial was a tremendous honour."

About Washington Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)

Washington MPD is based on the Metropolitan Police Service and maintains close links with it London colleagues. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln took personal interest in founding a regular police department for the District of Columbia. President Lincoln personally dispatched an emissary from the newly created Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners to New York City to become familiar with that system, which itself was based on the world-acclaimed Metropolitan London Police Department.

About COPS

Care of Police Survivors (otherwise known as COPS) is a UK registered charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, rebuild their lives. It aims 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. Visit www.UKCops.org for further information.