Calls for two Lanarkshire policemen killed in the line of duty to be recognised for their bravery have been raised at Westminster.

Speaking in a debate on Posthumous Award for Emergency Service Personnel, Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley urged the UK Government to recognise the two officers who were killed more than 40 years ago.

Police Constable George Taylor, from Carstairs Junction, was just 27 in 1976 when he was murdered by Robert Mone and Thomas McCulloch who had escaped from the State Hospital Carstairs.

In 1983, Detective Sergeant Ross Hunt was murdered in Larkhall while trying to arrest Hugh Murray Jr who was suspected of stabbing two men.

Despite efforts by both families, neither man has been officially recognised for their bravery by the UK Government with Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Jack denying the most recent attempts in December 2021.

The debate was tabled and led by Wendy Chamberlain, MP for North East Fife.

Commenting, Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley said:

“I am thankful to Wendy Chamberlain for bringing forward this debate and for including the cases from my constituency of PC George Taylor and DS Ross Hunt.

“The cases of PC Taylor and DS Hunt are both horrific and tragic yet these men, who put their lives on the line to protect the public, have not been recognised.

“While the families’ grief will never subside, official recognition would go some way towards acknowledging their bravery and remembering their sacrifices.”