Tributes paid to serving police officer who died in a collision

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a road traffic collision during which a serving Metropolitan Police officer sadly died.

The incident occurred in Lower Hatfield Road, at around 925am on Thursday, August 18 and involved a Renault Traffic van and a BMW motorbike.

The rider of the motorbike, PC Daniel Golding, aged 46, passed away at the scene, despite best efforts to save him.

His family have paid the following tribute to him: "Dan was a dedicated family man, with his wife Susan and two children, Amber aged 11 and Jack, 14. He was kind, modest, generous, sociable, thoughtful and funny. He spent every spare moment of his life, (when he wasn't doing DIY), with his children, playing silly games, getting them to their clubs and taking them away camping.

"Dan's ultimate dream was to become a rider with the Special Escort Group (SEG). Over several years he was lucky enough to escort and protect the Queen and many others at national events and international summits. In February this year, Dan took the momentous decision to transfer to the Metropolitan Police so he could try to get a full-time role on the SEG.

"He loved his role as a police motorcyclist and as a Senior Crash Investigator dealt with the worst kinds of tragedy in the most professional way and helped the families of those affected. Dedicated to making people safer, he was a leading advocate of the Bikesafe scheme.

"Losing this kind-hearted, gentle husband, father, brother, son and friend is a terrible sadness to everyone who knew him. He has left a hole in all of our lives that will never be filled."

Detective Sergeant Mark Dollard, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "I want to pass on my condolences to PC Golding's family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time; it is always sad when someone loses their life in the line of duty.

"Although the investigation is in its early stages, we are determined to conduct thorough enquiries to establish how this collision occurred.

"I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision, or the events leading up to it, to please contact police. I'd be particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have captured dash cam footage of the vehicles traveling in the area around the time. If you can help, please get in touch. Thank you."