Memorial, Frinton-on-Sea

Image: © Cathy Cox Taken: 30 Aug 2009

This is a memorial to Acting Police Sergeant Brian Bishop. The stone reads, "HERE FELL PC BRIAN BISHOP 22ND AUGUST 1984" A plaque on the seaward side reads "BRIAN BISHOP A MEMBER OF THE ESSEX POLICE TACTICAL FIREARMS GROUP WAS CALLED HERE TO AWAIT THE RETURN OF AN ARMED ROBBER, TO COLLECT STOLEN MONEY WHICH HE HAD HIDDEN FOLLOWING POST OFFICE RAIDS IN WALTON AND FRINTON BRIAN CHALLENGED THE SUSPECT WHO IMMEDIATELY OPENED FIRE CAUSING EXTENSIVE HEAD INJURIES FROM WHICH BRIAN SUBSEQUENTLY DIED A MAN WAS CONVICTED OF HIS MURDER You can read about Brian Bishop here http://www.essex.police.uk/memorial/roll-of-honour.php?rollOfHonourId=7 This memorial, funded by the Police Memorial Trust, was placed here in 1986 and was the first of its kind to be set up outside London. It is difficult to imagine a crime of violence disturbing the peace of this quiet spot but this stone is a sobering reminder of the dangers police officers face every day in the course of their duties. This photograph was taken 25 years almost to the day, after the murder of PC Brian Bishop; there are flowers placed next to the stone and a local passer-by stopped and spoke to us about it. The memorial is serving its purpose: people have not forgotten.

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