Survivor Support

Georgette Fulton

Many of you reading this letter will have experienced the aftermath of a line of duty death. You know the utter disbelief, isolation, and devastation it brings. I would ask you however to spare a moment to consider the unique loss that parents suffer in such a situation.

They are the ones who nurtured the officer in the womb, endured the sleepless nights, the tears and the achievements of which we were all so proud, as we watched our child grow up. We saw them find their niche in society, shared their joy when they found a partner, and when children came along, and of course, we shared their great pride when they first donned the police uniform.

Then, the earth vanished from under us, and we found ourselves in a dark void, when they are taken from us. We may have had a partner to share this heartache, but this can work in different ways, and we don't always support each other in ways that we should, which can put a terrible strain on any relationship.

Our only son Lewis (28) was murdered in Glasgow as he bravely went to the aid of colleagues on 17th June 1994, just two hours before he was due to start his annual leave.

A superbly fit young man, 6ft4in tall in his stocking soles, he was Scottish Police Lifesaving Champion for several years. Lewis always remained very close to us, and just a few years before his death, accompanied my husband and me on a fishing, walking and bird watching holiday in the highlands of Scotland.

Lewis was killed on Friday afternoon, and by the Sunday morning, I was in contact with my local MP George Foulkes, seeking his advice on getting better protective equipment for our police officers. I wrote to many people, including Prince Charles, the Prime Minister, and Donald Dewar, Scotland's First Minister. In all of this I had strong support from the then Chief Constable Leslie Sharp, and many other police officers.

Our police officers now have this enhanced protection, including boy armour, incapacitant sprays, and side handled batons. Even today, officers stop me in the street and thank me for my efforts in fighting for this equipment issue. Although emotional, it makes me proud to have done this for Lewis. He may be out of sight, but he is ever near.

To those of you who are new to this situation, I can tell you that you never forget. The pain never goes away. My advice is to find something that your son or daughter believed in, and go out there and fight for it. We owe that to our loved ones.

Georgette Fulton