06/10/2010

Police Service Honour Murdered PC

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) have honoured the life of PC Keith Blakelock who was murdered on the streets of Haringey 25 years ago.

The dedicated officer was attacked and killed during the Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham on 6 October 1985.

Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson joined members of the local community in remembering PC Blakelock at a memorial service marking his death and celebrating his life and achievements this afternoon.

As part of the service, and in keeping with borough tradition, Haringey's youngest serving probationer PC Claire Bloomfield, 24, laid a floral tribute at the memorial stone dedicated to PC Blakelock in Muswell Hill.

PC Blakelock joined the MPS in November 1980 and was initially assigned on a response team at Hornsey Police Station before becoming Home Beat Officer in Muswell Hill, Haringey.

The father of three, originally from Sunderland, had proved popular with both colleagues and the local community where he served.

He was one of the first officers called to Broadwater Farm and, together with his colleague PC Richard Coombes, attempted to protect several fire fighters who had been targeted by rioters. As the violence escalated officers retreated but PC Blakelock stumbled and was murdered by a gang during angry clashes on the Tottenham estate.

The reinvestigation into the murder of PC Blakelock, and attempted murder of PC Coombes, was announced following a lengthy review in December 2003. As part of this review, an address in Tottenham was excavated in 2004. A number of significant exhibits have also been forensically re-examined with advances in technology.

The inquiry, this year, has entered into an arrest phase, with a total of ten suspects being arrested. Officers are encouraged by the new information received and are starting to build a clearer picture of some of the events which occurred that night.

Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said: "I hope that this 25th anniversary proves the opportunity for those who have information on his killing to have the confidence to come forward and help bring justice for his family and those who knew him."

(BMcN)

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