Police officers murdered after fake 999 call recognised in new award

Two police officers murdered after responding to a fake 999 call are among more than 30 public servants to be honoured in a new award.
PCs Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, died in a gun and grenade attack while responding to what they thought was a burglary in Greater Manchester in 2012. They are believed to be the first two female officers killed in the line of duty in England.
Their fathers Bryn Hughes and Paul Bone, who campaigned for their daughters to be officially recognised, have now both received an Elizabeth Emblem, which recognises police officers and other public servants who died in the line of duty.
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 said: “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.”
The honour is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK armed forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.
Mr Hughes said politicians had told him the award was “long overdue”, adding “there was an element of surprise that nothing like this existed before”.
Both fathers met the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden on Wednesday. Mr Bone said the meeting was “icing on the cake” for their campaign.
He said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told them “he couldn’t imagine losing his children”.
He added: “We kind of replied ‘Well, we didn’t actually imagine losing ours either, but once it’s happened, you’ve got to carry on’.”
The design of the emblem includes a rosemary wreath, a traditional symbol of remembrance, surrounding a Tudor Crown and the inscription “For A Life Given In Service”.
Asked how his daughter would feel about the award, Mr Hughes said: “I know Nicola would be embarrassed.
“I think she’d be pleased and proud that it had happened for us, but I think she’d be embarrassed about it.”
Mr Bone said he would like their daughters to be remembered as “happy, bubbly public servants,” adding “they were doing their job happily, tried to help people – on that day it just went all wrong”.
Mr Hughes, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, said his daughter Nicola “loved the job”.
He added: “Police officers put their lives on the line every single day. They don’t know what they’re going into.
“They don’t know what’s behind that door and for me that says a lot about what they do every day.”
Ms Hughes and Ms Boneb were ambushed by Dale Cregan while responding to a 999 call in Hattersley, Greater Manchester. They thought they were at the scene of a burglary. It was later revealed that Cregan had made the call himself.
Also being recognised is Andrew Harper, the police officer who died while responding to a burglary in Berkshire in August 2019.
He was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road, just four weeks after getting married.
His widow Lissie Harper has received the award.
And the daughter of firefighter Leslie Marsh, of West Midlands Fire Service, will be awarded the Emblem 75 years after he died falling through a hole in the first floor of a derelict church when responding to a fire February 7, 1949.
Starmer said: “We must never forget those who have given their lives to protect others in the line of duty.
“While families will never be able to replace their loved ones, the Elizabeth Emblem pays tribute to the sacrifice they have made.”
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