Police remember murdered officers

Pc Nicola Hughes was killed by Dale Cregan alongside her colleague Pc Fiona Bone
18 September 2013

Police are remembering the "great sacrifice" of two unarmed officers who were killed by a gangster a year ago.

Dale Cregan lured Pc Nicola Hughes, 23, and Pc Fiona Bone, 32, to their deaths in a gun and grenade attack, ambushing them after a bogus 999 call to a house in Hattersley, Greater Manchester.

He had gone on the run days before killing David Short, 46, last August after gunning down his son, Mark Short, 23, at the Cotton Tree Pub in Droylsden three months earlier.

Cregan, 30, was given a whole-life sentence at Preston Crown Court in June.

Sir Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said: "Today marks the one-year anniversary since the day that shocked a nation, when our two dear colleagues, Pcs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes, were callously killed in cold blood as they attended what they believed was just a routine incident.

"The deaths of these two highly valued officers was a huge tragedy for their families, close colleagues and GMP, but also had an immense impact on the local community in Hattersley and the country as a whole.

"The families of these two young women have shown incredible dignity as they have had to deal with their grief in the public spotlight, but they have also found great courage in the tremendous displays of support from members of the public. People may never know how much both we and the families appreciated this.

"The last 12 months have been a difficult time for the force, but it is testament to the professionalism and dedication of our officers and staff, who since that day have continued to go out and serve the public to the very best of their ability.

"We have also worked tirelessly in the Tameside and north Manchester areas to deal with those organised criminal networks responsible for the extreme outbursts of violence that led up to the deaths of Fiona and Nicola. This work will go on around Greater Manchester as we continue to take down these types of offenders, strip them of their assets and try and prevent others from being drawn into this lifestyle.

"Today, we think of the families of Fiona and Nicola, of their friends and colleagues and the people of Hattersley. We remember our two young officers, who had their whole lives ahead of them but were taken cruelly from us doing the job they loved. We will never forget their great sacrifice."

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