List of British police officers killed in the line of duty


This article lists British police officers killed in the line of duty since 1900.
Thousands of police officers in Britain are believed to have died during the course of their duties, but this article includes only those who were killed as a direct result of a crime or while attempting to prevent, stop or solve a specific criminal act. The list omits those who died in more regular circumstances such as traffic collisions, and the many killed by air raids during the Second World War. The list also omits the more than 300 officers of the former Royal Ulster Constabulary and current Police Service of Northern Ireland who were killed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

List

NameRankAgeForceDate of deathCircumstances
PC33Metropolitan Police12 02 1967Accidentally run over while pursuing suspected thieves in Woolwich.
PC38Hampshire Constabulary17 09 1982Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC24Metropolitan Police24 01 1960Collapsed and died while pursuing suspects
PC35Greater Manchester Police31 08 1999Motorcycle rammed into oncoming traffic by suspect
PC37Great Yarmouth Borough Police18 08 1909Shot
PC41Metropolitan Police29 03 1958Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC27Metropolitan Police28 11 1931Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
WPC22Metropolitan Police17 12 1983Killed in the Harrods bombing
PC29Greater Manchester Police5 03 2001Run over by suspect
PC31Gateshead Borough Police12 09 1966Stabbed
WRC28Metropolitan Police06 07 1940Stabbed
Sgt47West Sussex Constabulary26 02 1942Shot
PC46Salford Borough Police11 07 1906Assaulted resulting in leg amputation and death
Supt43Somerset Constabulary27 07 1900Fatally injured while restraining a violent prisoner
PC23Liverpool City Police03 09 1911Died from injuries sustained during earlier riot
PC24City of Glasgow Police30 12 1969Shot
Sgt40Northumbria Police15 04 1913Shot
PC39Metropolitan Police20 08 1977Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC33Kent County Constabulary05 06 1951Shot
PC26Cardiff City Police13 04 1952Accidentally run over during an arrest
PC22Metropolitan Police10 04 1971Fell through a roof while pursuing suspect
PC27Metropolitan Police03 07 1986Run over during police pursuit
Sgt36City of London Police17 12 1910Shot - same incident as Sgt Charles Tucker and PC Walter Charles Choat
PC46Metropolitan Police03 06 1918Fatally injured during an arrest
PC38West Yorkshire Police18 11 2005Shot while responding to an armed robbery
A/Sgt37Essex Police27 08 1984Shot
PC40Metropolitan Police6 10 1985Stabbed
PC32Greater Manchester Police18 09 2012Shot alongside PC Nicola Hughes
PC31Staffordshire Police6 06 1946Bludgeoned during an arrest
PC50Lancashire Constabulary06 01 1905Collapsed and died during an arrest
Insp41Oxfordshire Constabulary01 01 1967Run over
PC41Thames Valley Police19 08 1987Shot in the Hungerford massacre
PC34West Yorkshire Police26 12 2003Shot
PC27Metropolitan Police28 08 1990Shot
PC20Liverpool City Police19 02 1962Fell through roof while searching for burglar
PC36Thames Valley Police1 04 2017Struck by suspect vehicle while deploying a stinger in 2013
PC32Northumbria Police14 02 1982Fell through a roof while pursuing burglar
PC35Northumbria Police31 01 1991Collapsed and died during an arrest
PC38Hertfordshire Constabulary07 04 1960Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC42Lancashire Constabulary07 10 1990Collapsed while dispersing rioters
Insp45Middlesbrough County Borough Police25 12 1920Assaulted during violent arrest
PC39City of Glasgow Police20 01 1919Shot
PC29West Midlands Police19 12 1988Shot while pursuing bank robbery suspects
PC46Northumbria Police13 04 2006Traffic collision while transporting a prisoner
DC30Metropolitan Police05 11 2012Collapsed while pursuing robbery suspects
PC28Metropolitan Police28 11 1931Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC34City of London Police17 12 1910Shot - same incident as Sgt Robert Bentley and Sgt Charles Tucker
PC43Worcestershire Constabulary21 12 1900Fatally injured in fall while searching for suspect
WPC20Thames Valley Police30 03 1984Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
Insp49Greater Manchester Police14 09 1989Shot
PC18Durham Constabulary06 02 1980Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
DC28Thames Valley Police23 07 1971Shot
PC31Lanarkshire Constabulary12 09 1932Accidentally run over while pursuing suspect
Chief Insp51Strathclyde Police26 08 1976Collapsed and died dealing with a disturbance
PC28Metropolitan Police09 09 1905Fatally injured in a fall while pursuing burglars
PC33Surrey Constabulary14 07 1977Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
Sgt40Nottingham City Police07 03 1921Fatally injured attempting to stop a speeding vehicle
Sgt33Wiltshire Constabulary31 03 1913Shot
PC35Merseyside Police4 07 1981Run over
PC31Cardiff City Police11 12 1941Shot
PC43Montgomeryshire Constabulary16 11 1903Died of heart failure after a violent arrest
Sgt42Leicestershire Constabulary1 09 1975Shot
PC25Avon and Somerset Constabulary29 12 1984Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
Insp44Metropolitan Police05 05 1912Collapsed and died while dispersing a nuisance crowd
, GMPC41Essex Police09 07 2012Shot while off duty and confronting an armed man
Insp34Metropolitan Police24 12 1983Killed in the Harrods bombing
PC34Metropolitan Police01 01 1960Struck by a train while pursuing suspects
PC36Stirling and Clackmannan Constabulary11 08 1967Run over
PC26Bootle Borough Police01 08 1935Fell through roof while searching for suspects
PC47Metropolitan Police22 09 2013Run over by suspect
PC44Metropolitan Police20 10 1993Shot
Insp42Berkshire Constabulary04 10 1944Fatally injured when thrown off a vehicle during an arrest
PC33Metropolitan Police13 02 1948Shot
WPC28South Yorkshire Police10 05 1995Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC20Greater Manchester Police11 03 1982Stabbed
WPC25Metropolitan Police17 04 1984Shot
PC22Metropolitan Police14 03 1929Fell through a roof while pursuing burglars
DC45Metropolitan Police26 01 1985Stabbed
Sgt34Northumbria Police21 03 1993Stabbed
PC41Metropolitan Police12 08 1966Shot alongside Christopher Head and David Wombwell
DI46West Yorkshire Police15 07 1951Shot alongside PC Arthur Gordon Jagger
PC25Nottinghamshire County Constabulary01 06 1950Collapsed after attending a domestic disturbance
Sgt41Essex Police08 04 1948Contracted fatal disease following injury sustained on duty
PC28Strathclyde Police17 06 1994Stabbed
A/DC25North Yorkshire Police2 03 1977Stabbed
PC27Strathclyde Police05 03 1980Electrocuted while investigating vandalism on a railway
SPC37North Yorkshire Police7 06 1992Shot by IRA member Patrick Magee during routine traffic stop
Sgt44Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary22 05 1951Shot
Insp36Metropolitan Police05 08 1974Collapsed and died after being assaulted in a riot
PC37Metropolitan Police06 01 1991Assaulted during an arrest
CEO40Metropolitan Police25 08 1975Killed by an IRA bomb
Sgt38Grampian Police10 08 1977Run over during police pursuit
DC46Bristol Constabulary14 08 1945Collapsed and died during an arrest
PC43West Mercia Constabulary6 05 2007Shot
PC20West Midlands Police17 07 1975Stabbed
Stn Sgt51Metropolitan Police18 06 1919Bludgeoned during the Epsom Riot
PC30St Helens Borough Police31 01 1914Collapsed and died during an arrest
PC24Birmingham City Police26 10 1901Fatally injured by a thrown brick while attempting to disperse a gang
PC21Warwickshire & Coventry Constabulary22 07 1972Shot
PC38Essex County Constabulary27 09 1927Shot
PC25North Yorkshire Police17 06 1982Shot
PC40West Midlands Police29 11 1987Collapsed attending a disturbance
PC58Metropolitan Police13 12 1995Stabbed
PC28Thames Valley Police15 08 2019Dragged by vehicle while investigating a burglary report
PC38Leith Burgh Police04 04 1900Collapsed and died during an arrest
Sgt31West Yorkshire Police12 03 1981Stabbed
DS30Metropolitan Police12 08 1966Shot alongside Geoffrey Fox and David Wombwell
PC30Metropolitan Police13 09 1902Fell through roof while searching a premises
PC36Bedfordshire Police11 06 2007Stabbed
DC23London & North Western Railway Police10 08 1901Bludgeoned and drowned attempting to arrest thieves
PC36West Yorkshire Police19 11 2006Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
CEO49Metropolitan Police26 10 1981Killed by an IRA bomb
PC28Leeds City Police04 01 1910Assaulted attending a disturbance
PC23Greater Manchester Police18 09 2012Shot alongside PC Fiona Bone
PC31Hertfordshire Constabulary12 12 1958Collapsed and died during an arrest
DS56Strathclyde Police05 06 1983Stabbed
Sgt48Metropolitan Police03 06 1961Shot
PC46South Yorkshire Police13 12 2003Collapsed while dispersing rioters
PC42West Yorkshire Police16 07 1951Died of wounds after being shot the previous day alongside DI Duncan Alexander Fraser
PC38South Wales Police02 08 2003Accidentally run over while pursuing suspect
Insp41City of Glasgow Police04 05 1921Shot
PC19Metropolitan Police6 02 1984Run over
PC34Avon and Somerset Constabulary17 05 1999Run over
PC30Metropolitan Police04 11 1973Fatally injured during an arrest
PC31Wiltshire Constabulary03 10 1979Fatally injured during an arrest
PC23Metropolitan Police27 05 1979Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC34Metropolitan Police22 02 1920Shot
PC29West Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary11 07 1900Shot
Sgt41Metropolitan Police Service29 11 1991Stabbed
A/Sgt42Lancashire Constabulary12 09 1978Collapsed and died during an arrest
PC46Metropolitan Police22 10 1975Collapsed and died while searching for suspects
Sgt28Metropolitan Police17 12 1983Killed in the Harrods bombing
PC27Metropolitan Police16 08 1930Run over
WPC20Avon and Somerset Constabulary27 11 1986Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC21West Midlands Police04 02 1984Fell from roof while searching for suspects
PC53Metropolitan Police11 04 1984Collapsed while struggling with a violent prisoner
Sgt41Denbighshire Constabulary05 10 1916Died from injuries sustained in earlier arrest
PC53Lothian and Borders Police08 08 1986Collapsed and died during violent arrest
PC19Nottinghamshire Police17 05 1978Beaten and drowned by burglar
PC21City of Glasgow Police22 11 1948Struck by a train while pursuing suspects
PC24Metropolitan Police13 12 1904Collapsed and died after an arrest
WPC25Metropolitan Police24 10 1997Stabbed
A/DC31City of Glasgow Police30 12 1969Shot
Sgt45Dumbartonshire Constabulary27 08 1926Killed in a traffic collision while searching for a suspect
PC31City of Glasgow Police04 09 1952Shot
PC46Durham Constabulary21 05 1997Collapsed and died while pursuing suspects from a stolen vehicle
PC40Wiltshire Constabulary05 06 1989Collapsed after a violent arrest
PC27Hertfordshire Constabulary14 04 1988Shot
PC50St Helens Borough Police19 06 1915Collapsed and died during an arrest
Chief Insp57British Transport Commission Police01 10 1954Collapsed and died pursuing suspected thief
PC42Norfolk Constabulary31 08 1981Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC25Metropolitan Police9 05 1987Run over
PC34Hawick Burgh Police20 07 1906Assaulted during an arrest
PC30British Transport Commission Police25 01 1960Fatally injured in fall while pursuing suspect
SPC45Herefordshire Constabulary20 10 1940Assaulted by disorderly suspect
PC20Metropolitan Police26 05 1982Vehicle crashed during pursuit
, KPMPC42Metropolitan Police2 11 1952Shot
PC39Leicestershire Constabulary15 08 2002Rammed by vehicle being pursued
Cmdr64City of London Police04 12 1993Collapsed during an arrest
DC26Metropolitan Police13 12 1991Stabbed
DC26Buckinghamshire Constabulary25 03 1953Fell through roof while searching for intruders
PC37Leicestershire Constabulary15 08 2002Rammed by vehicle being pursued
PC21Lanarkshire Constabulary07 08 1921Fatally injured during an arrest
PC40Northumberland County Constabulary15 04 1913Shot
PC49Greater Manchester Police27 02 1999Collapsed and died after pursuing suspect on foot
DC40Greater Manchester Police14 01 2003Stabbed
PC30Kent County Constabulary19 12 2000Run over
PC34Metropolitan Police01 10 1986Shot
DI47Lancashire Constabulary13 12 1958Shot
PC31Metropolitan Police25 10 1980Stabbed
, GMPC48Metropolitan Police22 03 2017Stabbed in Westminster Attack
Insp40Metropolitan Police03 06 1961Shot
PC37Berkshire Constabulary07 07 1949Collapsed and died after pursuing burglar
Sgt46Metropolitan Police20 05 1905Collapsed and died after an arrest
PC34Merseyside Police05 10 2015Run over during police pursuit
WRC54Liverpool City Police31 01 1942Assaulted during violent arrest
PC33Monmouthshire Constabulary14 07 1911Assaulted during violent arrest
DC31Durham Constabulary4 03 1982Shot
PC46Devon and Cornwall Constabulary2 02 1938Bludgeoned during an arrest
PC35Staffordshire Constabulary26 01 1903Bludgeoned during an arrest
PC49Anglesey Constabulary22 11 1924Shot
DS43Metropolitan Police13 07 1959Shot by Guenther Podola
WPC18Hertfordshire Constabulary13 10 1982Vehicle struck during police pursuit
Supt38Lancashire Constabulary23 08 1971Shot
PC27Essex Constabulary02 09 1968Run over accidentally while pursuing a suspect on foot
PC47Metropolitan Police26 12 2007Collapsed and died after a violent arrest
Sgt39Metropolitan Police9 02 1994Stabbed
Sgt55British Transport Police29 08 1975Collapsed while struggling with a violent prisoner
PC23Metropolitan Police25 12 1919Assaulted during an arrest
PC36Cumberland, Westmorland & Carlisle Constabulary10 02 1965Shot
PC34Metropolitan Police13 11 1904Collapsed and died during an arrest
PC28Hampshire Constabulary17 09 1982Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
DC45Greater Manchester Police02 05 1982Attacked by youths suspected of indecent assault
PC31South Yorkshire Police24 11 1989Fell through roof while searching burgled premises
A/Sgt36Metropolitan Police16 02 1918Fatally injured during an arrest
PC27Surrey Constabulary6 07 1974Shot
PC28Durham County Constabulary01 03 1940Shot
PC37Glamorgan Constabulary04 05 1910Stabbed
PC39Metropolitan Police09 11 1938Dragged by stolen vehicle while attempting an arrest
PC31Birmingham City Police23 05 1928Beaten while attending a disturbance
PC24Metropolitan Police25 10 1999Fell through roof while pursuing suspects
PC25Hertfordshire Constabulary07 04 1960Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC41West Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary19 07 1955Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC25Perth City Police23 04 1909Collapsed and died pursuing nuisance youths
PC35Bradford City Police25 01 1907Assaulted during an arrest
PC44Devon and Cornwall Constabulary21 12 1973Shot
PC36Stockport Borough Police18 10 1963Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC35Lancashire Constabulary27 01 1962Collapsed attending a violent street affray
PC21Shrewsbury Borough Police03 08 1937Drowned after pursuing suspect into a river
Sgt39West Yorkshire Police31 10 1984Shot
DS40Wolverhampton Borough Police20 08 1965Stabbed
PC27Avon and Somerset Constabulary29 12 1984Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC36Durham County Constabulary28 06 1927Shot
PC23Metropolitan Police14 12 1958Stabbed
PC30Metropolitan Police26 07 1984Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
DC44West Midlands Police21 05 2004Stabbed
Insp30West Yorkshire Police15 02 1970Shot
PC34Hull City Police28 05 1948Assaulted during violent arrest
PC27Strathclyde Police30 11 1976Attacked and fatally injured by escaped prisoners
PC26Staffordshire Police23 11 1986Pushed out of building by suspect
PC32Metropolitan Police01 12 1900Stabbed
ACC38Edinburgh City Police18 07 1940Shot
PC21Metropolitan Police26 02 1975Shot while assisting colleague when off-duty
PC37Metropolitan Police11 04 2009Thrown from police vehicle during pursuit
PC26Sussex Police25 04 1999Run over
WRC39Blackburn Borough Police27 12 1943Assaulted
Sgt46City of London Police16 12 1910Shot - same incident as Sgt Robert Bentley and PC Walter Charles Choat
PC30Lancashire Constabulary24 05 1956Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC31Metropolitan Police29 01 1909Shot
PC38Lancashire Constabulary29 11 1949Assaulted
PC49Aberdeen City Police22 03 1904Collapsed and died attempting an arrest
PC42Nottinghamshire Police9 01 2003Run over
PC46West Midlands Police4 10 2001Vehicle struck during a pursuit
PC46Essex Police13 1 2002Vehicle struck
Insp44Eastbourne Borough Police09 10 1912Shot
PC23Metropolitan Police30 04 1983Accidentally run over while pursuing suspects
PC28Metropolitan Police18 04 1995Shot
PC31South Shields Borough Police26 12 1957Fell through roof while searching for a suspect
PC21Metropolitan Police05 05 1973Dragged by vehicle while attempting to arrest the driver
PC31South Wales Constabulary23 10 1986Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
DS35Cambridge Borough Police4 06 1930Shot
PC24Wolverhampton Borough Police18 01 1925Shot
Sgt31North Yorkshire Police28 06 1982Shot
PC32Leicestershire Constabulary25 05 1903Shot
PC28Devon and Cornwall Constabulary20 08 1977Contracted fatal illness when spat on during disturbance
DC25Metropolitan Police12 08 1966Shot alongside Geoffrey Fox and Christopher Head
PC33Lancashire Constabulary25 02 1987Shot
PC37Lincolnshire Constabulary26 08 1906Collapsed and died during an arrest
PC35South Wales Police30 06 2000Vehicle crashed during police pursuit
PC37Lancashire Constabulary15 05 1907Assaulted
PC38Manchester City Police20 06 1934Run over
PC23Essex Police04 07 1982Fell through roof while searching a premises

Key to rank abbreviations: A/x = Acting • ACC = Assistant Chief Constable • CEO = Civilian Explosives Officer • Cmdr = Commander • DC = Detective Constable • DI = Detective Inspector • DS = Detective Sergeant • Insp = Inspector • PC = Police Constable • Sgt = Sergeant • SPC = Special Police Constable • Stn Sgt = Station Sergeant • Supt = Superintendent • WPC = Woman Police Constable • WRC = War Reserve Constable.