Hundreds at ceremony for crash victim officer

About 200 people came together to remember a police officer who died after a collision.

A civil service was held at the Guildhall in Northampton on Saturday to remember the life of PC Faizaan Najeeb.

Najeeb was struck by a car while attending a crash on Station Road in Raunds on 19 September and died at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge a week later.

Several members of his family were at the service along with the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police, Ivan Balhatchet.

Sgt Sam Dobbs, who is chairman of Northamptonshire Police Federation, said the chief wanted to "pull out all the stops" for Najeeb.

"[It was] a palpable blow to the force in the way it happened," said Dobbs.

"We have lost somebody very special to us and the community has lost somebody special to them, and then the family, a huge loss, and that breaks my heart."

The force said Najeeb's family were collected from their home in Bedford by police colleagues and transported to the event.

His mother, father, as well as siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins attended.

Various police officials and community figures were at the Guildhall to hear readings, hymns and video tributes for Najeeb, along with the lighting of candles.

The service finished with the playing of the national anthem.

Najeeb, 24, had joined the force in May 2022 and served with the response team in Wellingborough.

His collar number, P1967, was retired after his death.

An inquest opening in October heard Najeeb died from a fatal head injury.

The last time a Northamptonshire officer was killed in their job was in 1991 when Sgt Simon Lilley was killed in a road incident.

Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.