NATIONAL POLICE REMEMBRANCE DAY

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Simon Corbell today paid tribute to all police officers who risk their lives each day to protect and serve the community, and will tonight lay a wreath at a service in honour of those police officers who have died in the line of duty.

"National Police Remembrance Day is an important day of commemoration, and I encourage all Canberrans to join me in reflecting on the important service provided to the community by our police service," Mr Corbell said.

"Today is also a time that we remember those police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while performing their duty and protecting the community.

"We can be thankful that no police officers were killed in the line of duty in Australia in the last 12 months for the first time since 1944, but must remember the dangers our police men and women face each day."

Mr Corbell will lay a wreath at a ceremony this evening at the National Police Memorial, joining Governor-General Quentin Bryce, AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty, Air Chief Marshal Houston, Chief of the Defence Force, members of Australian Police forces and diplomats.

"The National Police Memorial honours all Australian police who have died on duty, and five new touchstones were blessed at a dawn ceremony this morning following historical research which aims to ensure all eligible officers are included in the memorial," Mr Corbell said.

"This brings the number of police officers killed on duty or who have died as a result of injuries received on duty to 731 since 1803."

The National Police Memorial in Kings Park on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin was launched in 2006, and the names of police officers killed on duty are remembered with bronze touchstones which are illuminated by a slit of light above each one.

National Police Remembrance Day was introduced in 1989 and is held on September 29 to coincide with the feast day of Saint Michael, the patron saint of policing. Remembrance services are held throughout Australasia in locations ranging from Western Australia and all the way to Fiji and the Solomon Islands.