POLICE officers this week (Tuesday, October 6) remembered North-East PC Keith Blakelock who was hacked to death during the Broadwater Farm riots in north London 30 years ago.
PC Blakelock, a Met officer from Sunderland, was part of a unit of ten constables and a sergeant sent in to protect firefighters tackling a blaze amid the chaos of the riots in Tottenham on October 6, 1985.
The father-of-three was murdered by a machete wielding gang in clashes with police.
No one has ever been found to be responsible for his death.
Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “PC Blakelock will be remembered for his bravery, trying to protect the firefighters battling flames during the social unrest. The decades will not diminish the sadness of his family, friends and colleagues.
“Our thoughts are with those who loved and lost him and we should pay our respects to those officers who also put themselves in harm’s way to try to save his life.”
Among those who laid wreaths were at a memorial in Muswell Hill was Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.
PC Blakelock was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal in 1988. Colleagues from the unit were also given the honour and the sergeant who put himself between PC Blakelock and the rioters was awarded the high honour of the George Medal for acts of great bravery.
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