A Tory government minister has U-turned on plans to give postumous bravery awards to hero Scottish police officers killed in the line of duty. Johnny Mercer blamed the late Queen for the move which has devastated the families of PC George Taylor and Detective Sergeant Ross Hunt.
The veterans minister told MPs in January he would look at how their bravery – and that of other emergency workers – could be recognised. But in a meeting with campaigner George Barnsley, he has now made a complete U-turn.
In the discussion over Zoom last month, Mercer said: “The challenge that we have is that the honours committee who looked at this in conversation with the late Queen, were of the view this should not be retrospective. My personal view is that I would like to see it aligned with the Elizabeth Cross and I have made that clear, that was not the view of the Queen.”
The Taylor and Hunt families believe both men are entitled to honours including the George Medal and Queen’s Commendation for Bravery. But Mercer told George such medals could not be awarded to PC Taylor because of a five-year time bar – which meant Ross would also miss out.
Mercer said: “That places us in a difficult position. The reality of what I can actually do in this space is pretty limited.” But that’s in stark contrast to what he said during a televised debate in the House of Commons in January which followed Sunday Mail-backed campaign to see the hero officers commended.
At the time, Mercer said: “Things have changed over the last couple of months around the difficult technicalities of working out who should be eligible for this sort of award. We held a meeting on this, as would be expected, and it is now a Government priority to get this resolved this year.
“I want to get this sorted out and I want to do everything we can.”
The January medal debate was presented by Wendy Chamberlain MP for North East Fife, a former police officer, with full cross-party support including Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross. Chamberlain said: “I cannot begin to express how disappointed I am. Families have had their hopes raised only for the government to apply an arbitrary time bar. It is utterly shameful. I will not be letting this rest."
Tory leader Ross, whose wife is a serving police officer, said he was also unhappy. He added: “I share the family’s disappointment at what was said to them by the minister in this meeting, especially after his initial positive response. I will continue to look at what can be done so these officers can finally be recognised for their service.”
PC Taylor was murdered in 1976 by Robert Mone and Thomas McCulloch, on the run from State Hospital in Carstairs, Lanarkshire, after killing two people. Det Sgt Hunt was stabbed to death in 1983 in nearby Larkhall while trying to arrest a teenager suspected of an earlier knife attack.
George’s son David Taylor, 54, said: “I haven’t been able to tell our mum as this would just upset her. We are not going to stop because we have come this far.
“The politicians are just making up the rules as they go along and claiming things which are not true, like the five-year rule. All Mercer did at the meeting was waffle to George. He didn’t answer any of his questions.” Ross’s son Philip Hunt, 62, said they would be asking for a separate meeting with Mercer.
He added: “The family is disappointed but we are not giving up. We will continue to push to push for recognition for our father who lost his life in the line of duty protecting his colleagues. All we are looking for is justice from the powers to be.”
Barnsley, a former detective superintendent and founder of the Lanarkshire Police Association said: “It is a ridiculous decision. I was very disappointed to get to this stage and hit a brick wall despite his previous assurances.” It’s not known why George and Ross didn’t receive medals at the time of their deaths.
After George’s murder, the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police Patrick Hamill recommended him for a bravery award to Bruce Millan, then secretary of state for Scotland, – but it fell on deaf ears. The three officers who arrested Mone and McCulloch in England received the Queen’s Gallantry medal. The only recognition of George and Ross’s courage today are plaques inside Hamilton police office, paid for by colleagues.
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