Covid-19 restrictions stop 25th anniversary of slain Ilford Pc
Detective chief superintendent Stephen Clayman of East Area Command laid a wreath at the Empress Avenue memorial to mark the 25th anniversary of slain Ilford Pc Phillip Walters. Picture: Metropolitan Police - Credit: Archant
The 25th anniversary memorial ceremony for an Ilford police officer shot dead was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions but the police commissioner and colleagues paid their respects to mark the occasion.
Police Commissioner Cressida Dick held a ceremony at New Scotland Yard since the full ceremony had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. Picture: Metropolitan Police - Credit: Archant
Pc Phillip Walters was called to a disturbance at a house on Empress Avenue on the evening of April 18, 1995 and attended with four other Pcs.
While trying to arrest one man who was part of a group beating up another man, Pc Walters received a fatal gun shot wound to his chest and died aged just 28.
“We found these three guys beating up this man,” explained Pc Derek Shepherd, speaking to the Recorder at the 20th anniversary.
Pc Phillip Walters, who was shot dead on April 18 1995. - Credit: Archant
“I managed to cuff one and then we tackled another, and then this guy came out from the top of the stairs and just started firing.”
You may also want to watch:
Pc Walters’ killer was convicted of manslaughter and left prison on parole several years ago.
A plaque, funded my Recorder readers, was placed in Valentines Park, shortly after his death.
The police chaplain Jonathan Osborne held the ceremony at New Scotland Yard. Picture: Metropolitan Police - Credit: Archant
Most Read
- 1 Young Citizen: Ilford student who assisted at crash campaigns for more first aid
- 2 Sam Tarry MP urges Sadiq Khan to block Goodmayes Tesco development
- 3 Barkingside man charged with intending to supply cannabis
- 4 Redbridge issued more than 2,800 Blue Badge fines in 2020, data shows
- 5 Charity urges council to tackle alleged Ilford Lane anti-social behaviour
- 6 Protestors decry 'privatisation' of NHS outside Loxford Practice
- 7 Guilty: Who was jailed across east London in July?
- 8 'I convened a meeting for residents and businesses in the York Road area'
- 9 Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge 'least active' boroughs in London, study finds
- 10 More than £5m worth of stolen vehicles recovered in first Redbridge Action Week
The police and family were planning on holding a big ceremony at the site of Pc Walters memorial on Empress Avenue today (Friday, April 17) with a large group of people but had to cancel it.
Instead Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick held a ceremony at New Scotland Yard and Detective chief superintendent Stephen Clayman of East Area Command laid a wreath at the Empress Avenue memorial.
Det Ch Supt Clayman said it was a very difficult decision to cancel the event but the family were extremely understanding of the circumstances.
The plaque for PC Phillip Walters in Empress Avenue. - Credit: Archant
Pc Walters died right before Det Ch Supt Clayman started at the Met but he said his legacy remains strong in East Area Command where there is a Phillip Walters memorial room at Ilford Police Station.
Det Ch Supt Clayman said: “It is always with great sadness when you remember a fallen colleague who died in such tragic circumstances.
“It was an honour for me to lay the flowers at the memorial stone.”
The police are hoping to have a memorial ceremony later this year or next year once it is safe to do so.
