The fathers of two police officers murdered on duty are backing a Daily Express campaign for injured 999 staff to be awarded medals. Paul Bone and Bryn Hughes, whose daughters were killed in 2012, are urging the government to launch an Injured in Service Award for emergency personnel who suffer life-changing injuries.
Campaign for recognition of injured emergency workers
Unarmed PCs Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, were killed by Dale Cregan in a gun and grenade attack as they responded to a burglary report in Tameside, Greater Manchester, in September 2012. Their families received the Elizabeth Emblem in December 2024 after tireless campaigning by their fathers. The emblem recognises emergency workers and public servants who died in the line of duty, but no equivalent exists for those injured while serving.
Bryn Hughes said: "I support this campaign because this award will mean officers will know they've not been forgotten. Nothing will take away the injuries or the psychological trauma, but this will say to officers, 'You are being thought of, you are being recognised'." He added that his daughter Nicola was paralysed by the first shot and would have had no official recognition if she had survived.
Fathers' ongoing dedication
Both fathers wear the Elizabeth Emblem proudly and attend every passing out parade for Greater Manchester Police, 11 times a year, presenting the best recruit trophy in memory of their daughters. Paul Bone said: "The introduction of the Elizabeth Emblem meant my daughter Fiona and her police partner Nicola Hughes, along with many other public servants, were awarded the posthumous recognition they rightly deserved. However it does not include those who were severely injured, barely survived and are medically retired. These individuals also deserve recognition for their sacrifice."
He added: "Every time you step out of a police station you don't actually know what's going to happen to you, whether you'll be injured or even die. You can't prepare yourself for it, and you certainly can't prepare your family for it because who would want to go out if you know you're going to be killed or injured that day? Our brave police officers and emergency services men and women, that's who."
Political progress and support
MPs voted through the motion for the Injury in Service Award in November 2025. Following campaigning by the Daily Express, policing minister Sarah Jones met medal campaigner Tom Curry in February 2026. She agreed to write to MPs confirming government attention and a commitment to reconvene in six months to review progress. The Cabinet Office's Honours and Appointments Secretariat would need to put the proposal before the King.
Tom Curry, founder of the 999 Injured and Forgotten campaign, said: "I will be eternally grateful to Bryn and Paul for adding their valued support to the campaign for the 999 injured. Having received the posthumous Elizabeth Emblem, they are both fully aware that had either of their daughters survived, but with life-changing injury, there is currently no recognition available. It is for that crucial reason that the campaign seeks to change this national disgrace."
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Morrison said: "I'm proud that the injury in service campaign has the backing of people like Bryn Hughes and Paul Bone, who lost their daughters who were doing the jobs they loved. There's real momentum to make this award a reality and we must not let up." Shadow policing and crime minister Matt Vickers added: "Our honours system rightly recognises courage and sacrifice. Yet too often those injured in uniform are left without formal recognition. That is a gap that needs to be closed."
Dale Cregan, now 43, received a whole-life prison sentence in 2013 for the murders. He had made a false 999 call to lure the officers into an ambush, firing 32 shots.
