An all-Wales team will be joining this year’s Police Unity Tour.

And South Wales Police Federation members are being urged to consider taking part in the sponsored cycle ride to raise awareness of colleagues who have lost their lives in the course of their duties and raise money for the charity that supports their families.

The tour involves officers and often staff from across the forces in England and Wales completing a two-day sponsored bike ride, usually covering around 180 miles, and then meeting at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.

The Police Unity Tour is in support of the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) charity.

This year cyclists will set off from their home forces on Friday 26 July and will finish on Sunday 28 July.

Each rider wears a wristband dedicated to a fallen officer and, where possible, presents this to the family of that officer at the end of the ride. After the service, the congregation visits The Beat, an avenue at the arboretum where each force has its own tree.

Those wanting to take part can now register online. There is a £150 non-refundable registration fee to offset the costs of two nights’ accommodation and a PUT cycling jersey.

COPS was founded in 2003 by retired Strathclyde police officer Jim McNulty and Christine Fulton (MBE) whose husband PC Lewis Fulton was murdered on duty in Glasgow in 1994.

The charity contacts the survivors of every officer who loses their life on duty, explaining what support the charity can offer and inviting them to get in touch if they need such support.

Find out more about COPS.

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