The Prime Minister is being urged to overturn a controversial decision to refuse bravery medals to murdered Scottish police officers.
It follows a Sunday Mail-supported campaign by the families of George Taylor and Ross Hunt for posthumous recognition of their heroism.
Now politicians have called for all police killed in the line of duty, even before the five-year time limit, to be honoured.
PC Taylor was murdered in November 1976 by Robert Mone and Thomas McCulloch, who had escaped from the State Hospital in Carstairs, Lanarkshire.
Detective Sergeant Ross was stabbed to death by three people in Larkhall, Lanarkshire, in June 1983.
But last month, their families were told by the Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, that their medal requests had been refused by both the Home Office and Cabinet Office in Downing Street. They say all bravery awards have a five-year timebar.
Wendy Chamberlain, MP for North East Fife, said: “As a former officer, I know that police officers are the front line in terms of protecting the public. I’m saddened Home Office red tape seems to be the barrier to fulfilling the wishes of the Taylor and Hunt families and to have the deaths of their loved ones acknowledged posthumously.
“I’ll be doing all I can to raise these cases and the campaign in Parliament.” Ian Blackford, SNP Westminster leader, said: “I urge the Prime Minister to intervene in this important campaign and to do the right thing by overturning the refusal due to the five-year timebar.”
Labour’s Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray added: “I call on the Home Office and Cabinet Office to reconsider.”
The families’ cases have been taken up by George Barnsley, of the Lanarkshire Police Historical Society, and local Tory MSP Graham Simpson. Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone has backed the families and offered a Chief Constable’s Bravery Commendation.
Campaigners believe both men are entitled to a variety of honours, including the George Medal and Queen’s Gallantry Medal.
George was attacked by Mone and McCulloch, who were on the run after killing a Carstairs nurse and inmate. Both were sentenced to life at the High Court in Glasgow in 1977.
McCulloch was freed in 2013, while Mone is still in jail.
Ross was murdered after he tried to arrest 16-year-old stabbing suspect Hugh Murray.
Murray Jr was sentenced to be detained without limit of time for the killing. His father, Hugh Murray Sr, and sister Margaret Smith were both jailed for life for murder.
A UK Government spokesman said the sacrifice of the officers will never be forgotten. He added: “The rules on posthumous gallantry awards stipulate that the event must have taken place in the past five years.
“This means, regrettably, it is not possible for either case to be formally reconsidered.”
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