More than a hundred fallen police officers were remembered yesterday in an emotional service at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Children, colleagues, widows and widowers gathered to remember the 110 policemen- and women killed in the line of duty between April last year and March this year.

Addressing the ceremony, National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele said he would no longer tolerate the killing of police officers on duty.

"I have always stated and maintained that when an SA Police Service member executes their duty and someone does something that causes a death, it should not be [that of] the SAPS member," he told the gathering.

"Men and women join the SAPS to make a difference in the communities and some end up paying the highest price. Each time a police officer is killed, swift action must be taken and the community must help get the perpetrator in jail quickly."

The commemoration comes over a week after Metro police officer Johannes Mogale was allegedly beaten to death by Blue Bulls rugby player Jacobus "Bees" Roux. Mogale had stopped Roux on suspicion of drunken driving.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said his ministry was trying to "correct past wrongs" by giving financial assistance to the families of deceased officers timeously. "We want to give surviving family members their benefits on time. We need to improve and improve now.

"Police are establishing a SAPS education fund to help the children of fallen officers. As much as SAPS pays out pensions to families after the death of a police officer, it is not enough."

Everyone in the police service who died was remembered, from messengers and student constables to officers in higher ranks.

Family members could not contain their grief and wailed as they walked through a guard of honour to lay wreaths under memorial plaques.

An inconsolable Joyce, whose husband died while trying to arrest a criminal earlier this year, said it was difficult living without their breadwinner.

"It still hurts, you know. Like he left only yesterday. I have three kids to take care of alone and am waiting for some of the monies from the police," the young widow sobbed.

Mthethwa's spokesman, Zweli Mnisi, said the minister hoped to have the education fund operational by the start of next year.

"We will engage the private sector, SAPS and the government in helping set up the fund," said Mnisi.