Force service remembers young PC
25 July 2025
The standard is lowered during the act of remembrance.
West Midlands Police Federation chair Jess Davies was among those who laid a floral tribute during a special ceremony at Lloyd House to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of a 20-year-old West Midlands officer.
PC David Green was fatally stabbed while on duty on 17 July 1975.
The ceremony at Force Headquarters was led by Matthew Hopley, the national police chaplain, and was attended by Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green.
David’s niece and nephew - Claire Hill and Andrew Bryan – represented the family.
Jess said afterwards: “It was a beautiful, small ceremony. The honour guard as always added a special touch and made it even more poignant.
Moving
“I always find it really moving to see them in attendance. They are just very professional and polished, showing a real sense of pride in our service and providing a fitting formality and solemnity to the service.
“It’s so important to remember our fallen officers and the sacrifices they have made. It is sad to think that knife crime was a problem all those years ago and continues to be such a major issue now 50 years on.”
PC David Green.
Back in 1975, David was on patrol near the Rainbow Suite on High Street, Birmingham when he saw a 16-year-old boy with a knife and tried to arrest him and confiscate the knife, according to the West Midlands Police Museum website.
The youth ran off so he gave chase and arrested him. David was attempting to bring him back into custody but was quickly surrounded by a gang of youths who jostled him and tried to free the prisoner.
Another youth stabbed David in the heart and the men ran off. He tried to give chase but, after a short distance, collapsed. A carving knife was later recovered from a flowerbed outside Rackhams.
