Two families of West Mids officers to receive first Elizabeth Emblems

26 November 2024

The families of two fallen West Midlands Police officers will be among the first to receive the new Elizabeth Emblem.

The emblem has been created to posthumously honour emergency service workers who lose their lives as a result of serving their communities.

It has just been announced that the first 38 families will be presented with the Elizabeth Emblem by His Majesty The King later this year.

Among them will be the loved ones of PCs Malcolm ‘Mac’ Walker and Keith Dobson.

Patrol

Mac was 46 when he died on 4 October 2001 while on motorcycle patrol. He had tried to stop a stolen car which drove straight at him on his motorbike.

Keith died on 3 September 2011. He had retired from the Force but died of mesothelioma that he contracted due to exposure to asbestos during police training. He was 68.

“We are pleased that families are now set to receive these emblems and we welcome the fact that two West Midlands officers will be among the first to be recognised in this way,” says Rich Cooke, chair of West Midlands Police Federation.

“We were firm supporters of the campaign for this new award to be created and think it is right and proper that families receive this posthumous award. Hopefully, it will not be too long before other families learn when they too will be presented with their Elizabeth Emblems.”

Ambushed

The first recipients named publicly also include Greater Manchester PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone who were ambushed and killed as they responded to a hoax 999 call.

In 2021 Nicola’s father, Bryn Hughes, joined with the Police Federation of England and Wales to launch the ‘Medals For Heroes’ campaign calling for formal state recognition for emergency service workers who lose their lives while protecting others.

It was announced in March this year that the King and the Government would introduce this with the Elizabeth Emblem, named in honour of the Queen Elizabeth II.

The emblem features a Tudor crown and a rosemary wreath. The inscription reads ‘For A Life Given In Service’ and the recipient's name is engraved on the back. 

Find out more about the Elizabeth Emblem.