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PC missed off memorial

PC Sandra Edwards

The parents of a police officer who died after a high-speed car chase tearfully asked last night why she cannot be named on a new national memorial.

PC Sandra Edwards, 28, died from serious injuries after her police car left the road as she pursued a Ford Fiesta, hitting a wall and bursting into flames.

Her parents, Enid, 65, and Tom Morton, 71, were expecting to see her name on the National Police Memorial, unveiled by the Queen in London, last month.

But they were left devastated when it transpired she could not be one of the 1,600 officers honoured, because her death did not match a strict set of criteria.

Only officers killed while making an arrest or during acts of gallantry can be included. Those killed in traffic accidents are specifically excluded.

Last night, Mrs Morton, who lives with her husband at Fairway, in Guide Post, Northumberland, said: "How heroic have you got to be?

"The main thing is my daughter died doing her duty without question, as did many others."

Mr Morton added: "It cheapens the other lives that have been lost. You put the uniform on and go out in that situation, and can be killed in many ways."

PC Edwards, a former Bedlington High School pupil, had joined South Yorkshire Police aged 18, and was a traffic officer in Barnsley at the time of her death.

Her Vauxhall Senator was chasing the Ford Fiesta when it hit a hole in the road, careering into a field and struck a section of stone wall, in May 1995.

She was pulled from the car by her injured colleague, PC Ian Dodd, and was rushed to hospital, where she never regained consciousness.

Three days after the crash her parents decided her life-support machine should be switched off. She died 10 years ago on Tuesday.

Her parents expected her name to be included on the memorial, which was erected in The Mall, Central London, following a 10-year campaign by film director Michael Winner.

She is remembered in a 4,000-strong memorial list, compiled by the Police Roll of Honour Trust, which includes all those officers killed on duty.

But the memorial bears the names of just 1,600 people, which match the separate Police Memorial Trust criteria of dying during arrests, gallantry, or by criminal acts.

Mrs Morton said: "I want to know what the reason is. Why are they discriminating? Why are they choosing some, and not others? It should be a memorial to all."

The couple have written to Michael Winner, who set up the Police Memorial Trust, but have so far not received a reply.

However, they have also expressed their gratitude to him for fighting for the memorial.

Last night, Anthony Rea, director of the Police Roll of Honour Trust, said: "Sandra Edwards is on the national roll of honour which includes all officers who died in the line of duty.

"But the Police Memorial was set up by Michael Winner, and while it was established to honour all police officers, he wished to pay special recognition to those officers killed by criminals, effecting arrests or through acts of gallantry. That was his choice, not ours."

The Journal asked the Police Memorial Trust for a comment last night, and was told to email Mr Winner directly, but received no reply.

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