The fallen Greater Manchester Police officers killed or who died in the line of duty

The third largest force in England and Wales, Greater Manchester Police is responsible for serving and protecting over 2.8 million people in the region. Formed in 1974, Greater Manchester Police[1] employs 6,866 police officers and over 3,500 members of police staff according to figures released in March 2020. But what is sometimes lost in statistics and figures is the dedication and acts of bravery shown by its officers each day, especially those who work on the front line of policing.

While incidents of police officers being killed or dying in the line of duty are thankfully rare, Bryn Hughes, father of murdered GMP officer PC Nicola Hughes, has urged the government to award posthumous medals[2] to all emergency workers killed at work.

Bryn Hughes’ daughter was killed in 2012, alongside fellow officer PC Fiona Bone, in a gun and grenade ambush while on duty in Tameside[5], Greater Manchester. Speaking to BBC[6] Breakfast News, Mr Hughes said: “I’ve said all along with Nicola and Fiona and other officers we’ve lost, they’re there to protect the public, there to serve the public, and it’s quite right that they should be remembered and honoured when they lose their lives in those circumstances.”

As well as Mr Hughes’ calls, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the death of Sergeant Francis Prendergast and the 20th anniversary of the death of anti-terrorist Special Branch officer Stephen Oake. Sgt Prendergast was killed when a wall collapsed following a fire at a club, while DC Oake was stabbed to death apprehending an Al Qaeda terrorist during a police raid. To remember and honour the lives of these and other fallen GMP officers, here we’ve listed 30 police officers who were killed – or died – while on duty.

Alan Brewer

Night Detective Alan Brewer, died Jan 25, 1985 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Night Detective Alan Brewer collapsed and died in the charge office at Bootle Street police station in Manchester on January 25, 1985.

Detective Constable Brewer, 54, became involved in dealing with a violent prisoner when he suffered a fatal heart attack in the station. Newspaper reports at the time said Detective Brewer from Ashton-under-Lyne joined the police in 1958. He left a widow and three children.

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Alison Armitage

Constable Alison Armitage, died March 5, 2001 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Constable Alison Armitage lost her life during an undercover operation at Hollinwood[8], near Oldham[9], on March 5, 2001. PC Armitage, 29, died after trying to detain a teenage car thief in a stolen vehicle, when the driver violently reversed hitting Constable Armitage, dragging her under the vehicle causing fatal injuries. At the time of her death, PC Armitage, from Grotton, Oldham, had completed five years’ service with GMP and was working with the Operational Support Unit at Chadderton[10] police station.

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Allan Shaw

PC Allan Shaw, July 19, 2006

Constable Allan Shaw, 33, died during a training exercise on Crompton ay, Astley Bridge, Bolton[12] on July 19, 2006. The father-of-one came off a motorbike and slid under a parked lorry as he practised escorting VIP convoys, receiving fatal injuries. PC Shaw, from Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan[13], joined GMP in 1999 and had served in Eccles[14] and Irlam before becoming a motorcycle officer based in Blackley[15].

Andrew Stokes

Detective Constable Andrew Stokes, died January 3, 2012 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Detective Constable Andrew Stokes collapsed and died of heart failure while on duty on January 2, 2012.

He was 46-years old. In a commemoration post on the GMP Federation’s Facebook page, he was described as a “lovely fella” who had also worked for Merseyside Police at one time. One post simply said: “Shifts over now, rest well brave man, love and God bless, love always”.

Carol Anne Waddington

Constable Carol Anne Waddington, died December 20, 1968 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Constable Carol Anne Waddington from Rochdale[16] died on December 20, 1968.

PC Waddington was a passenger in a car returning from duty at the Police Training Centre at Bruche, Warrington, when the car was involved in an accident with a lorry. She was 19-years old. Newspaper reports at the time said PC Waddington had joined the police force a year earlier and was made a constable just months before her death.

She left behind her parents, fiance – who was also a police officer – and sister.

Christopher Donald Maclure

PCSO Christopher Maclure, died September 10, 2007 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Police Community Support Officer, Christopher Maclure, died in a road traffic accident on September 10, 2007. PCSO Maclure was on patrol on a mountain bike when he was in an accident with a lorry on Atherton Road, Wigan. The 21-year old officer suffered fatal head injuries.

He had only joined the force earlier that year and was engaged to be married.

Christopher Hart

PC Christopher Hart, died January 12, 2008 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Constable Christopher Hart, 40, a response officer based in Bury[17], died on January 12, 2008. PC Hart suffered serious head injuries and died when the police van he was driving collided with a VW Polo, overturned and struck a set of traffic lights, while responding to an incident. Born in Bolton, PC Hart lived in Ainsworth and had a six-year old son.

Following his death, Chief Superintendent Jon Rush, Bury divisional commander, said: “Chris was a respected member of Bury division and his tragic and sudden death will be deeply felt by his family, particularly his young son, and his work colleagues.”

Deborah Nicholson

Constable Deborah Nicholson died on November 6, 1980. Constable Nicholson, 24, was on duty making a routine factory check in Wigan when she collapsed and died from a viral infection of the heart. Newspaper reports at the time said PC Nicholson lived in Pemberton, Wigan, and had joined the force nearly five years earlier.

Colleagues were stunned by her death with one saying: “She was a lovely girl. We are all devastated.”

Fiona Bone

PC Fiona Bone, died September 18, 2012

Constable Fiona Bone, 32, from Sale[18], Trafford[19], died alongside colleague PC Nicola Hughes, on September 18, 2012. Both officers died in a gun and grenade ambush after they were lured to a house in Mottram in Longdendale[20], Tameside[21], by killer Dale Cregan.

Cregan, then a fugitive who had already murdered two gangland rivals, dialled 999 to make the bogus report at the property on Abbey Gardens and lure officers into an ambush. Cregan is now serving a whole life sentence for the murders of the two officers, and of father-and-son Mark and David Short in a separate attack. PC Bone lived with her partner and were planning to marry.

Then Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said: “She was an excellent bobby and cared about her job, and the community she served.”

Francis Prendergast

Sergeant Francis Prendergast, 43, died on December 3, 1963. He was the Plain Clothes and Licensing Sergeant for Oldham Borough, and was viewing the remains of the Majestic Club, in Bloom Street, which had been destroyed by fire. Due to high winds a wall of the building collapsed onto him, causing fatal injuries.

George Main

Constable George Main, died February 24, 1978 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Constable George Main, 34, from Heywood[22] died in an road traffic accident on February 24, 1978.

He was travelling in a police car along Thornton Street, Collyhurst, when it crashed into the back of a parked van. PC Main was married and had a two-year old child.

Ian Terry

Constable Ian Terry, died June 9, 2008

Constable Ian Terry died on June 9, 2008. PC Terry was accidentally shot dead during a training exercise run by the Greater Manchester Police[23] firearms unit at a disused warehouse in Newton[24] Heath.

The 32-year old officer from Burnley was married with two children. Described as a “role model” to his colleagues, he had been a firearms officer with Greater Manchester Police since 2002, after joining the force in 1997.

Ian Rodgers

Constable Ian Rodgers, died April 3, 1975 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Constable Ian Rodgers died on April 3, 1975. PC Rodgers, 25, was checking the railway line at Brinnington near Stockport[25] after receiving a report of young children trespassing when he was hit by a train.

PC Rodgers, who lived in Great Moor, Stockport, was married and had two young children. He had joined the police as a 17-year old cadet in Liverpool. He was stationed in Stockport for five years and was a member of the police life saving team.

John Egerton

PC John Egerton, died March 11, 1982

Constable John Egerton, 20, died on March 11, 1982.

The young policeman was killed as he investigated a reports of a man seen climbing into a large factory yard in Bolton in the early hours of the morning. With the assistance of a colleague the officers split up to search the yard and a short time later PC Egerton used his radio to report that he had disturbed someone. PC Egerton’s colleague found him dying after he had received multiple stab wounds including through his heart.

His killer was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Following PC Egerton’s death, Chief Constable, Jim Anderton, said: “A promising future has come to a tragic end. The loss of John Egerton is immeasurable, and I pray his parents and sisters will be comforted by his bravery and devotion to duty.”

John Cameron

PC John Cameron, 27, died on January 6, 1977.

PC Cameron died in a road traffic accident on a fogbound M66 when the car he was driving burst into flames after crashing into the back of a stationary lorry. PC Cameron, was answering an emergency call of another accident on the M62[26] when the tragedy happened. The young officer lived in Radcliffe[27] and was married with two children.

John Sandford

Detective Constable John Sandford, died May 2, 1982 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Detective Constable John Sandford died on May 2, 1982.

Detective Sandford, 45, from Eccles was on duty near the Manchester Airport[28] Sports and Social Club when he attended an incident involving a group of youths. During the incident, one of the youths violently struck the detective with a wheel brace across the head; he sustained serious injuries and died. The 45-year detective was a married father of two.

John Waring

PC John Waring died suddenly while on duty at Park Lane Police Station on March 25, 1980.

Known affectionately as ‘Pongo’ the 53-year old officer from Salford[29] was a married grandad with three children and six grandchildren. He had been a member of the police force for 27-years.

Kevin Dearnaley

Constable Dearnaley, died March 27, 1996 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Constable Kevin Dearnaley died on March 27, 1996. PC Dearnaley, 31, was taking part in a police motorcycle training course when he was involved in a crash with a lorry and a car on the A533 near Northwich.

PC Dearnaley, who lived in Derbyshire, was married with two boys, aged four and one. He joined Greater Manchester Police in September 1986 and was based at Longsight[30].

Lewis Entwistle

Sergeant Lewis Entwistle, died December 22, 1981 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Sergeant Lewis Entwistle died died on December 22, 1981. The 49-year old was on duty on the M62 in Whitefield[31] when he stopped a Ford Cortina on the hard shoulder.

Whilst out of the car and speaking to the driver, an articulated lorry drifted into the hard shoulder and hit the Cortina which burst into flames. The police officer and two occupants in the car died. Newspaper reports at the time said Sergeant Entwistle, Bolton and Bury Divisions, had a 22-year career with the force and left a widow.

Michael Entwisle

Constable Michael Entwisle, died September 8, 1981 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Constable Michael Entwisle died on September 8, 1981.

The 30-year old PC had been called into work due to a shortage of staff when he was fatally injured in a road accident. PC Entwisle was single and lived with his parents in Bolton.

Nicola Hughes

Pc Nicola Hughes, died September 18, 2012

Constable Nicola Hughes, 23, from Saddleworth[32], Oldham, died alongside colleague PC Fiona Bone, on September 18, 2012. Both officers died in a gun and grenade ambush after they were lured to a house in Mottram in Longdendale, Tameside[33], by killer Dale Cregan.

PC Hughes had served with Greater Manchester Police for three. Police chiefs recalled her as ‘a lovely friend and a great bobby’ in a tribute at the time of her death. The murders of Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone shocked the country.

Their funerals were held on consecutive days at Manchester Cathedral, with much of the city centre coming to a standstill.

Nigel Heap

Constable Nigel Heap, died May 22, 1989 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Constable Nigel Heap died on May 22, 1989. The 32-year old mounted officer was cleaning out a stable when he was kicked in the head by a horse. He died later in hospital.

The officer from Ashton[34] had got married only a year earlier. In a memorial post on the GMP Federation Facebook page, one mourner called him “a friend and colleague” who was a “gent and genuinely good bloke.” Adding: “RIP old friend.”

Norman Salisbury

Constable Norman Salisbury, died March 22, 1976 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Constable Norman Salisbury, 45, died on March 22, 1976. PC Salisbury was attached to the Dog Section of GMP.

Whilst undergoing a period of training with his dog on the moors near Manchester, he collapsed and died.

Raja Ahmed

PC Raja Ahmed, died August 31, 1999 (Image: GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE)

Constable Raja Ahmed, 35, died on August 31, 1999. PC Ahmed was killed after trying to stop a suspected stolen car on Alan Turing Way. He suffered fatal injuries at the junction of Oldham Road and Queen’s Road in Miles Platting after his motorbike was shunted by the car into the path of an oncoming lorry.

Career criminal Steven Draper, of Tatton Street, Ordsall, Salford, was jailed for life. At the time of his death, PC Ahmed had served in the force for over 14-years and had received four commendations for excellent police work. He was studying in his own time for a law degree at Manchester Metropolitan University.

On the 20th anniversary of his death in 2019, PC Raja Ahmed’s niece Shazma Mahmood-Shakoor said: “My uncle Gudu was not only a kind and caring police officer, but a very competent one, who loved his job. In upholding the law, he made the ultimate sacrifice resulting in his unexpected and untimely death, which was a huge shock that left our family completely devastated.”

Raymond Codling

Inspector Raymond Codling, September 14, 1989

Inspector Raymond Codling died on September 14, 1989. Inspector Codling was killed in cold blood by convicted robber at Birch Services on the border of Heywood and Middleton[35].

In the early hours of the morning, the 49-year old dad was first shot dead after he and a colleague went to the west bound area of Birch Service Station on the M62 to make inquiries about a van. He was shot in the chest with a hand gun and then shot again as he lay wounded and defenceless on the ground. The killer shot and killed himself during a police siege later the same day.

At his funeral, Chief Constable, Mr James Anderton said: “Ray Codling was proud of being a front line cop. He wanted to be out on the streets among the people and that is precisely what he did for 20-years, being assaulted and injured many times.”

Robert Nathans

Constable Robert Nathans, died February 27, 1999 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Constable Nathans died on February 27, 1999. PC Nathans was driving a patrol van along Portland Street in the City Centre.

He was turning into Oxford Road[36], when he suffered a massive and fatal heart attack. The married 49-year old had been a police officer for 21-years and was working from Bootle Street Station. Paying tribute, Superintendent Val Binstead said: “He was one of the best police officers you could have”.

In a letter published in the Manchester Evening News following his death, his colleague Inspector Shaun Currie wrote: “Bob’s death creates a large hole in the lives of many of his colleagues. We all feel richer for having had the privilege and pleasure of working with him.”

Stephen Burgess

Sergeant Stephen Burgess, died September 15, 1988 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Sergeant Stephen Burgess, 44, died on September 15, 1988. Sergeant Burgess was riding a pedal bike when he was in a road traffic accident involving a lorry on Talbot Road in Stretford[37].

The sergeant from Timperley left behind a wife.

Stephen Oake

DC Stephen Oake, died January 14, 2003

Detective Constable Stephen Oake, from Poynton Macclesfield[38], died on January 14, 2003. DC Oake, along with colleagues, entered a flat in the Cheetham Hill[39] area as part of a counter terrorism operation. The 40-year-old Special Branch officer died after being stabbed as he tried to restrain Al Qaeda terrorist Kamel Bourgass during the raid.

Bourgass, already on the run after police smashed a ricin terror plot in London, grabbed a kitchen knife in an attempt to escape. The married father-of-three grabbed the suspect to prevent him fleeing and clung on even after he had been stabbed in the chest eight times. Bourgass was jailed for life at the Old Bailey.

DC Oake joined GMP in 1984. He worked in uniform in South Manchester for 15-years before being transferred to Special Branch in 1999, working at Manchester Airport in the forefront of the fight against terrorism.

Thomas McCarthy

Detective Constable Thomas McCarthy, died October 21, 1986 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Detective Constable Thomas McCarthy died on October 21, 1986. The 38-year old detective was killed in a road traffic accident during mobile surveillance training near Preston.

On a memorial posted on the GMP Federation’s Facebook page, those remembering him described him as a “pleasure to work with” and “an absolute gentleman”.

William Hughes

Sergeant William Hughes, died April 20, 1973 (Image: Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives)

Sergeant Hughes, 51, died on April 20, 1973.

The police dog trainer was running an exercise when he slipped on a wet, muddy bank and injured his ankle.

He later died after a blood clot formed as a result of the accident.

References

1. ^ Greater Manchester Police (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ urged the government to award posthumous medals (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^ Entire village just outside Greater Manchester ‘executed’ and ‘wiped off the map’ without a trace (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^ Read today’s top Manchester Evening News stories (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
5. ^ Tameside (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
6. ^ BBC (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
7. ^ by clicking here (manchester.page.link)
8. ^ Hollinwood (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
9. ^ Oldham (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
10. ^ Chadderton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
11. ^ clicking this link (chat.whatsapp.com)
12. ^ Bolton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
13. ^ Wigan (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
14. ^ Eccles (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
15. ^ Blackley (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
16. ^ Rochdale (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
17. ^ Bury (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
18. ^ Sale (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
19. ^ Trafford (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
20. ^ Longdendale (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
21. ^ Tameside (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
22. ^ Heywood (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
23. ^ Greater Manchester Police (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
24. ^ Newton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
25. ^ Stockport (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
26. ^ M62 (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
27. ^ Radcliffe (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
28. ^ Manchester Airport (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
29. ^ Salford (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
30. ^ Longsight (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
31. ^ Whitefield (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
32. ^ Saddleworth (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
33. ^ Tameside (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
34. ^ Ashton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
35. ^ Middleton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
36. ^ Oxford Road (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
37. ^ Stretford (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
38. ^ Macclesfield (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
39. ^ Cheetham Hill (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)