CHIEF Constable Mike Veale will be getting on his bike to raise money for a police charity.

The chief along with two other officers based at Wiltshire Police Headquarters in Devizes will raise money for the Care Of Police Survivors.

He will be joined on the three day180 mile ride from London to Staffordshire by Sgt Pete Tuite and PC Tracy Davies along with hundreds of riders from across the country.

They will come together at the National Police Memorial in the capital and ride to the National Memorial Arboretum in Lichfield to take part in the COPS 2016 Memorial Service on July 31.

Mr Veale said: “COPS is a registered charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have died on duty, rebuild their lives.

“It aims to ensure that survivors have all the help they need to cope with such a tragedy, and that they remain part of the police family.

“I have ridden once before and found the whole experience physically and emotionally draining. The Memorial Service to celebrate and commemorate our fallen colleagues at the end of the cycle is incredibly moving and has a profound effect on me every time I attend.

“This year’s challenge has been made so much more important because the dangers we face as police staff and officers are becoming ever more real. The recent tragedies involving officers both here and abroad, staff and other public servants have made the dangers we face more vivid and horrifying than ever before.

“This has inspired me to make this small personal commitment and contribution to this incredibly worthwhile cause.”

Wiltshire Police recently held its Force awards ceremony, which included the presentation of the Dan Cooper Award.

PC Cooper, who was based in Melksham, died in February 2010 when he was responding to an incident.

A police spokesman said: "His wonderful parents courageously attended the ceremony to personally present his award to PC Thomas Carver. Their presence was so much appreciated and this award helps to keep Dan’s memory alive.

"However it also provides us with a stark reminder of the personal risks all our staff and officers take in their duty to serve the public."