Roll of honour

A roll of honour paying tribute to all 80 police officers who have died in the line of duty in Greater Manchester has been unveiled.

Stretching back 190 years, the wooden plaque, which includes several people who died in Rochdale, is the first time all the officers have been featured in one place.

Chief Constable Peter Fahy officially unveiled the board at Greater Manchester Police Force Museum, Newton Street, yesterday during a ceremony attended by relatives of officers killed while upholding the law and protecting their communities.

Chief Constable Fahy said it was important to honour the sacrifice and bravery of officers who paid the ultimate price for their commitment to duty.

He added: “British policing is still routinely unarmed and we have a very proud tradition of serving the public. Officers are out there 24 hours a day and policing has always had its dangers and risks in trying to save people and respond to incidents quickly.

“I’m pleased to be able to honour these sacrifices. This means we will always be able to remember the sacrifices made. I think it’s going to be a wonderful memorial.”

The names range from John Ashworth, a special constable killed in the Peterloo massacre in 1819, to PC Ian Terry, who was shot during a firearms training exercise last June.

Officers who died in Rochdale include Inspector Ray Codling, who was shot dead at Birch Services in 1989.

The board was the idea of retired police inspector Ian Tootell, who raised money to fund it, with donations from branches of the National Association of Retired Police Officers and International Police Association as well as GMP.

Mr Tootell said he saw a similar board while on holiday in Vancouver and realised there was nowhere in Greater Manchester for the public to see the names and pay their respects to fallen officers.

He spent hours researching the stories behind every death and has created a powerpoint display to share their tragic tales.