Alison Armitage
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- Police Constable, Greater Manchester Police
- Died 05/03/2001
- Received fatal injuries when she was run over by a stolen vehicle which she was attempting to stop leaving the car park of a derelict pub in Robert Street, Hollinwood, Oldham
At the time of her death, aged just 29, WPC Alison Armstrong was the first Greater Manchester policewoman to be killed in the line of duty and was believed to be only the third woman officer in the country to be killed on operational duty.
Alison joined Greater Manchester Police five years before her death. She was promoted from normal patrol duties in Chadderton, Oldham, to the Operational Support Unit shortly before Christmas 2000.
Her divisional commander, Chief Supt Eric Hewitt, said: “She became a key member of that team immediately, and within a few weeks I had commended her for the outstanding part she played in the arrest of a crime gang. “Only yesterday, I was writing a commendation for her. She was instrumental in the arrest of six men in an attempted armed robbery just a few days ago.” She had an outstanding record for a young officer. She had a zest for life and her work that was infectious. She was one of our most popular officers. She was proud to be a police officer and I think she would love to just be remembered as a damn good police constable.
On March 5, 2001, Alison was nearing the end of her shift at Chadderton Police Station in Oldham, typing the final words on a report into her undercover work trailing a gang of would-be bank robbers. In another office, her commanding officer was putting her name forward for a commendation for “outstanding police work” after she discovered the gang’s plans.
She wouldn’t live to see the result of her work – six suspects arrested the week following her death. The award was given posthumously to her parents.
Word came in that a stolen Vauxhall Vectra had been spotted in the car park of a derelict public house in Robert Street, Hollinwood, Oldham, Greater Manchester. Alison went with her colleague PC Gary Lamont, to observe the vehicle while waiting for a tow truck to come and remove it. When a youth approached it without the officers noticing, entered and started the engine both officers ran to the vehicle, Alison from the rear, the other officer going to the driver’s door to open it and detain the occupant.
