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| Prince Charles attends National Police Memorial Day service | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The Prince of Wales has attended an event to honour police officers who were killed while on duty. | |
| Home Secretary Theresa May also attended the National Police Memorial Day event, held at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. | |
| Senior officers from across the United Kingdom were also at the annual remembrance event. | |
| The prince, who is patron of a service which moves around the UK, also attended last year's event in Cardiff. | |
| Sgt Joe Holness, who founded the commemoration, said it was a special day to remember those that have died. | Sgt Joe Holness, who founded the commemoration, said it was a special day to remember those that have died. |
| "It is a day that is as profound now as it was 11 years ago when this event first started," he said. | "It is a day that is as profound now as it was 11 years ago when this event first started," he said. |
| "It brings together police forces, officers, colleagues, friends and family from across the country to remember and give recognition to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice protecting us." | "It brings together police forces, officers, colleagues, friends and family from across the country to remember and give recognition to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice protecting us." |
| The event was inaugurated by Sgt Holness after his colleague was killed on duty. | The event was inaugurated by Sgt Holness after his colleague was killed on duty. |
| 'Poignant day' | 'Poignant day' |
| The inaugural service was held at St Paul's Cathedral on Sunday October 3 2004. | The inaugural service was held at St Paul's Cathedral on Sunday October 3 2004. |
| Mark Simpson at the Waterfront Hall | |
| The cross-community service in the heart of Belfast emphasised how much the city had changed and how deeply the city had suffered in the past. | |
| The Prince of Wales has been to Belfast before but for the first time, exact details of his visit were made public in advance. It was a clear sign of how the security situation had improved. | |
| However, there was no disguising the hurt caused by 30 years of violence. Many relatives of police officers who died in the Troubles wept openly at the service. | |
| They sat together with families of officers killed across the United Kingdom. | |
| For everyone who was there, it was a chance to reflect on the past, amid the hope of a better future. | |
| "Police officers go to work every day knowing that they could find themselves in danger, and sometimes they risk their very lives as they protect the public," said Mrs May. | "Police officers go to work every day knowing that they could find themselves in danger, and sometimes they risk their very lives as they protect the public," said Mrs May. |
| "We owe a debt of gratitude to officers across the country who show bravery as a matter of course and in many cases while they are off duty." | "We owe a debt of gratitude to officers across the country who show bravery as a matter of course and in many cases while they are off duty." |
| Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said it was a poignant and significant day for the policing family as officers throughout the UK gather to pay tribute to fallen colleagues. | Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said it was a poignant and significant day for the policing family as officers throughout the UK gather to pay tribute to fallen colleagues. |
| "Their dedication to duty and self-sacrifice will never be forgotten," he said. | "Their dedication to duty and self-sacrifice will never be forgotten," he said. |
| Services have been held all over the United Kingdom to reflect the national contribution made by the police, organisers said. | Services have been held all over the United Kingdom to reflect the national contribution made by the police, organisers said. |