This year’s Poppy Appeal showcases two specially decorated police cars with red poppies to show the Force’s support to the Royal British legion’s annual appeal. 

The specially branded cars have been out and about in Devon and Cornwall throughout November and will be attending a number of pre-planned events and conducting general patrol. 

Today the cars will be attending Exeter Cathedral and Bodmin Remembrance Day services with officers from each of the local areas. 

From tomorrow the vehicle will be back out on patrol across Devon and Cornwall and will continue to hold the poppy design for the next three weeks.

Officers from across the counties will be attending ceremonies and laying wreaths to remember those who died in conflict.

Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable, Shaun Sawyer, said: “The two poppy cars this year are part of our Remembrance Service where we continue to support our armed forces in a public way, particularly as we mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. 

“Around 360 police officers from the two counties served in the armed forces during the war with 34 losing their lives.  This year we have invited members of their families to join our service at HQ to learn about their stories and remember their sacrifice.

“We hope that the car will remind people of the sacrifices that were made and encourage people to go out and buy a poppy ahead of this year’s Remembrance Day and actively engage with the Royal British Legion’s campaign.”

More than 40 million poppies will be distributed by 40,000 dedicated collectors during this year’s appeal. 

The money raised in Devon and Cornwall will go towards the Legion’s record national fundraising target of £50million, the highest ever set. These funds will help the Legion continue to support today’s armed forces community through hardships, injury and bereavements.

Susanne Archard, Area Manager for The Royal British Legion for Devon and Cornwall, said: “This is the first year that Devon and Cornwall Police have proudly supported the Legion in this way and we’re delighted to be working with them in this very special centenary year.

“This Poppy Appeal, as we mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, the Legion is calling on the nation to say Thank You to the entire First World War generation who served, sacrificed and changed our world.

“This is a creative way to raise the profile of the Poppy Appeal and we hope that the car will encourage the public to support the appeal and to take a moment to reflect on the contribution of not only the British armed forces during the First World War but those who fought alongside them from today’s Commonwealth and the countless men, women and children who played their part of the home front.”

As a result of the public’s support in the last year, The Royal British Legion has been able to answer more than a million requests for help from the armed forces community.

The Legion uses public donations to support in many ways including providing crisis grants, offering the children of armed forces personnel adventure breaks, researching the impact of blast injuries on the body, lobbying the government on key issues and advising on benefits and money problems.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Alison Hernandez said: “It’s great to have two poppy cars this year, it’s a really visible way to commemorate the service and sacrifice made by all members of the British Armed Forces and particularly officers from Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on the 100th anniversary of end of the First World War.”

* First Kernow also unveiled a double decker bus in a poppy livery and the Royal British Legion logo as an all-year tribute to the armed forces and to support the important work done by the Royal British Legion charity.

The vehicle will be operating across First Kernow’s bus network from its Summercourt Bus Depot. 

Today First Kernow offered free journeys across its bus network to serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans and Cadets travelling to Remembrance Day services.

The local bus operator announced the concession in honour of all the fallen and the surviving veterans of conflict.