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Police stay away from Harrogate Remembrance service because they haven’t been trained how to march
A YORKSHIRE police force has taken the bizarre decision not join a Remembrance Sunday parade because it says its officers do not have enough “marching experience”.
North Yorkshire Police officers have traditionally paraded in Harrogate alongside other organisations, including North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, St John Ambulance, the British Red Cross and the Scouts and Guides.
But the force has decided officers will not take part in the parade to Harrogate’s war memorial this year because of their lack of military marching experience.
A spokesman at the regional office of the Royal British Legion said she had never heard of any police force using that explanation for not joining a Remembrance Sunday parade.
She added that other groups taking part did not have to have formal marching training and were there simply to show their respect for the sacrifice of soldiers in former and current conflicts.
A police spokesman said: “Unfortunately, due to retirements and people being transferred to other areas, Harrogate police do not have a sufficient number of officers with the correct military marching experience to have the capacity to take part in this year’s Remembrance Sunday parade.
“However, North Yorkshire Police will still be represented in Harrogate on Remembrance Sunday by Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Tim Madgwick, who will be attending the memorial service at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery.”
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Weather for Yorkshire
Thursday 23 February 2012
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Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 16 C
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Wind direction: South west
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Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
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dunningtonlad
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 08:44 PMI have the highest regard for the yorkshire post but wonder on this occasion, if the the article was deliberately mischievous or whether it was an abbreviation of the truth. throughout the county, large numbers of police officers were on duty to ensure that the solemn event of remembrance could take place without hindrance or interruption and that situation of necessity, would leave the service short of available personnel to take part personally, in marching. I understand however that a number of officers marched with the British Legion to swell their ranks and that the deputy chief constable and local superintendent were also present at the the event. Good newspaper coverage this probably was, accurate, no sir! Jim Boam North Yorkshire Police retired York City
Brer Fox
Friday, November 11, 2011 at 05:37 PMFirst they were a Force.Then they became a Service.Now they are a laughing stock.
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