Advertisement

More Arrests Over Police Hit-And-Run Murder

Four people have now been arrested in connection with the murder of a police officer hit by a stolen pick-up truck in Merseyside.

Two men, aged 18 and 30, from the Oxton and Wallasey areas of Wirral are being held on suspicion of murder and are being questioned by detectives.

Two women, aged 19 and 34, have also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender

Officers executed four warrants in the Oxton and Wallasey areas as part of the investigation.

PC Dave Phillips was struck by the vehicle during a police pursuit on Monday morning.

The 34-year-old officer had been trying to use a stinger device to stop the Mitsubishi Challenger L200 as it travelled alongside the docks in Wallasey.

The pick-up had earlier been stolen during a burglary in Birkenhead.

PC Phillips was given emergency first aid by colleagues at the scene and taken to hospital but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

A post-mortem examination found the officer died from internal injuries suffered as a result of the impact with the vehicle.

A memorial fund has now been set up in memory of the father-of-two.

Investigators are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward - and have spoken to a taxi driver who claims he took a fare from one of the suspects .

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Richardson, said: "I would like to thank the public for their overwhelming support.

"Since the investigation was launched yesterday we have been inundated with calls from members of the public and as a result we are following up a number of positive lines of inquiry.

"From the hundreds of supporting and caring comments on social media and media websites yesterday it is obvious that there is overwhelming support for the police and that the public appreciate the work undertaken by officers like PC Phillips to keep their communities safe.

"I would like to appeal to any members of the public who have any information which could help us with the investigation to come forward.

"You may not think that the information you have will mean that much, but for us that information could be the vital piece of the jigsaw we need and is essential in helping us to build up a picture in relation to what happened on the night."

:: Anyone with information should call police on 0151 777 2263, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.