WPC Yvonne Fletcher among 8 London police and firefighters who died in line of duty honoured with new emblem
WPC Yvonne Fletcher, who was shot outside the Iranian Embassy, is among eight London police officers and firefighters to be honoured with a new Elizabeth Emblem.
The emblem is to commemorate members of the emergency services and other public servants who died in the line of duty.
More than 30 families who lost loved ones became the first recipients of the emblem on Saturday.
It is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross which recognises members of Britain’s armed forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.
Met Police officers and London Fire Brigade firefighters honoured included:
* WPC Yvonne Fletcher who died on 17 April 1984. She was part of a detachment of 30 police officers sent to St James’s Square, London, to monitor a demonstration outside the Libyan Embassy. A counter-demonstration by Gaddafi supporters had been arranged by the Embassy and took place outside the building. At 10.18 automatic gunfire was discharged from two windows of the Embassy building in the direction of the anti- Gaddafi demonstration. The gunfire wounded eleven protestors and WPC Fletcher was also hit and died in hospital later that day.
* WPC Jane Philippa Arbuthnot who died on 17 December 1983. She responded to an IRA terrorist bomb threat at Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge, outside Harrods. While she and her colleagues were evacuating the area, they approached a vehicle which, unbeknown to them, contained an explosive device. On detonation, she was killed instantly.
* Police Sergeant Alan King who died on 29 November 1991. He was on patrol in Walthamstow when he approached an individual. The suspect was in the process of loading the goods which were stolen during a burglary. He violently attacked and stabbed PS King in the neck, chest and abdomen. Though he was rushed to hospital, PS King later died in Whipps Cross Hospital.
* PC Philip Walters who died on 18 April 1995. He responded to reports of a domestic disturbance at a flat in Empress Avenue, Ilford, with his colleague PC Derek Shepherd. Upon arrival, the pair discovered three men attacking a man in the property. As the suspects attempted to escape, two were detained. One was detained by PC Walters. While he was being handcuffed the suspect produced a handgun with his free hand and shot PC Walters in the chest.
* PC Leslie Meehan who died on 2 March 1960. He was on normal traffic duty in Beresford Square, Woolwich, when he stopped a vehicle. PC Meehan came to the passenger door after recognising the driver. It is believed PC Meehan suspected (correctly) that some sacks in the back of the vehicle contained stolen goods so he told the driver to pull the car over so it could be searched. It drove off. PC Meehan was pulled alongside the car for around 130 yards before he was thrown off and into oncoming traffic. He was hit by a number of vehicles and run over by one of them. He subsequently died from severe head injuries.
* PC Nathanael Edgar who died on 13 February 1948. He was on plain-clothes duty in Wades Hill, Winchmore Hill, north London when he noticed a man acting suspiciously, and questioned him. At this point, the suspect pulled a pistol which PC Edgar tried to wrest from his grasp. In the struggle PC Edgar was shot a number of times in the abdomen and leg. He was rushed to hospital and given emergency treatment, but died of his wounds.
* Firefighter Terence Joseph Breen who died on 17 July 1969. Following a fire in an oil tank at Dudgeons Wharf on the Isle of Dogs, the London Fire Brigade were called to make the tanker safe. During the inspection of the tank, an explosion occurred. Five firemen, including Mr Breen, and one construction worker were all killed instantly.
* Firefighter Edward James Harwood who died on 21st December 1951. He was killed in action while fighting a fire at the Broad Street Good station, Eldon St in London.
The fathers of two murdered police officers said it was “vitally important” to honour public servants killed in the line of duty after they became the first recipients of a new award.
Bryn Hughes and Paul Bone both received an Elizabeth Emblem following the deaths of their daughters Pcs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone, who were murdered by Dale Cregan in a gun and grenade attack while responding to a 999 call in Greater Manchester in 2012.
Following a campaign by Mr Hughes and Mr Bone, it was announced earlier this year that the emblem would be awarded to the next of kin of police officers, firefighters and other public servants.
Mr Bone, from Pool in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire, said every public sector worker who dies in the line of duty “should have the opportunity to be remembered and honoured”.
Mr Hughes stressed: “I think it’s vitally important, not just for Nicola and Fiona and for other police officers, but all public sector workers who are killed or die in the line of duty or in operational circumstances.
“It’s vitally important that they’re recognised and remembered.”
Lissie Harper, widow of police officer Andrew Harper, is also among the recipients of the honour.
He was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a winding country road, just four weeks after getting married.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “We must never forget those who have given their lives to protect others in the line of duty.”
* The word “woman” in front of female police officers' ranks, as in WPC, was ditched in 1999.