Hundreds attend ceremony in memory of Northamptonshire officer
Police Constable Faizaan Najeeb died following a road traffic collision in September last year
Over 200 people attended a civic service in Northampton to commemorate the life of Northamptonshire Police Constable Faizaan Najeeb.
Faizaan, affectionately known as "Fuzz," passed away in September 2025, a week after being critically injured in a road traffic accident.
At 24, he was the first officer in the Force to die in the line of duty since 1991.
The service, hosted at the Guildhall on Saturday (25 April), brought together family members, colleagues, and community representatives.
Leading the ceremony was Sam Dobbs, chairman of the Northamptonshire Police Federation, who spoke on behalf of the Chief Constable.
Many police officers from Wellingborough, where Faizaan served, also joined the tribute.
Readings were given by Danielle Stone, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Sophia Parveen, co-chair of the Association of Muslim Police, local policing commander Supt Rachael Handford, James Watson, Lord-Lieutenant for Northamptonshire, and the county’s High Sheriff, Roger Butler.
In his tribute, Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said, “This Force has lost one of its true characters – a good, hard-working and fun-loving constable who had his life and career ahead of him."
“We are one family in this hall – Faizaan’s family – 17 of them are here today. Then there’s his police family. And then there is the family that is Northamptonshire - a whole host of different people, many of whom won’t have known Faizaan but will feel our loss, share our suffering, and want to give thanks for all that he did and meant to Northamptonshire and the public."
Chief Supt Hillery, head of Local Policing, said: “Fuzz died doing the job he loved, doing what he believed in, protecting others and serving his community. His death is a stark reminder of the risks that police officers accept every time they put on the uniform.”
Attendees were shown a video compiling happy memories and heartfelt tributes from Team 3 in Wellingborough, where Faizaan had worked.
The service concluded with every attendee lighting a blue and white candle, followed by a final act of dedication led by Tiff Lynch, National Chair of the Police Federation.
As Faizaan’s Constable helmet was presented to his 10-year-old cousin, Yusha, by the Chief Constable, the police ceremonial team raised the police Standard for the last time in his honour.