The Elizabeth Emblem – recognising public servants who have died in the line of duty – is long overdue, Cleveland Police Federation has said.

Among the first recipients of the Emblem are Bryn Hughes and Paul Bone, whose daughters PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes died in 2012 after attending a routine 999 call together at a house in Greater Manchester. Upon arrival at the address PC Bone and PC Hughes were killed at the scene by an offender wanted for murder.

Lissie Harper will also receive an Emblem after her husband, Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper, died in 2019 responding to a call relating to the theft of a quad bike. During the attempted arrest PC Harper was pulled behind the vehicle for several miles, and died of his injuries.

Cleveland Police Federation Chair Paul Crowley welcomed the introduction of the Emblem, but said there should also be some recognition of those police officers who have had their careers cut short by injury.

Paul said: “We need to recognise those officers who make the ultimate sacrifice. The Elizabeth Emblem is long overdue, and I am so pleased it has now been brought to fruition.

“My personal opinion is that we should go one step further than this. We also need to recognise those officers who have had their careers cut short by injuries on duty, for example. It’s positive that the next of kin of fallen officers are being presented with the Elizabeth Emblem, and those people are being posthumously recognised, but we also need to make sure we look after those officers who have served their communities but who were injured on duty, causing their careers to be cut short.”