Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley has welcome the creation of the Elizabeth Emblem to recognise public servants who died while on duty.

The award was created following various campaigns across the UK to recognise public servants including police, firefighters and NHS workers.

In Lanarkshire, campaigns to recognise the bravery of DS Ross Hunt and PC George Taylor who were killed in the line of duty.

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 had 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.

In October 2023, both men were posthumously awarded the Brave@Heart Award by First Minister Humza Yousaf.

Commenting, Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley said:

“While the families’ grief will never subside, this new award will go some way towards acknowledging their bravery and remembering their sacrifices.

“The cases of PC Taylor and DS Hunt are both horrific and tragic so it is right that these men, who put their lives on the line to protect the public, are recognised.

“It is thanks to the families for their campaigning for recognition that the Elizabeth Emblem exists and this will ensure no other public servant who loses their life in the line of duty goes unrecognised.”