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| David Phillips: PC killed by stolen vehicle 'didn't stand a chance' | David Phillips: PC killed by stolen vehicle 'didn't stand a chance' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A police officer struck and killed by a stolen car during a pursuit in Merseyside "didn't stand a chance", the force's chief constable has said. | A police officer struck and killed by a stolen car during a pursuit in Merseyside "didn't stand a chance", the force's chief constable has said. |
| PC David Phillips, 34, was hit by a pick-up vehicle which mounted a central reservation in Wallasey at 02:10 BST. | PC David Phillips, 34, was hit by a pick-up vehicle which mounted a central reservation in Wallasey at 02:10 BST. |
| The married father-of-two had been trying to stop the vehicle, which was taken from an estate agents in Birkenhead. | The married father-of-two had been trying to stop the vehicle, which was taken from an estate agents in Birkenhead. |
| A murder investigation is under way. | A murder investigation is under way. |
| Merseyside Police Chief Constable Sir Jon Murphy paid tribute to Mr Phillips, who was married to Jen and the father of Abigail, seven, and Sophie, three. | Merseyside Police Chief Constable Sir Jon Murphy paid tribute to Mr Phillips, who was married to Jen and the father of Abigail, seven, and Sophie, three. |
| He said: "This is an incredibly sad day for Merseyside Police. His daughters will have to grow up without their father. He didn't stand a chance." | He said: "This is an incredibly sad day for Merseyside Police. His daughters will have to grow up without their father. He didn't stand a chance." |
| He also appealed for the perpetrators to "do the sensible thing, do the right thing and give yourselves up". | He also appealed for the perpetrators to "do the sensible thing, do the right thing and give yourselves up". |
| "If you don't, we will find you," he added. | "If you don't, we will find you," he added. |
| "We've got no idea who has done this. We have an abandoned vehicle and at this moment we have nothing left." | "We've got no idea who has done this. We have an abandoned vehicle and at this moment we have nothing left." |
| 'Very real dangers' | 'Very real dangers' |
| Home Secretary Theresa May said in a statement: "My thoughts are with the family and friends of the officer who has sadly died and with his many colleagues in Merseyside Police and the wider policing community. | Home Secretary Theresa May said in a statement: "My thoughts are with the family and friends of the officer who has sadly died and with his many colleagues in Merseyside Police and the wider policing community. |
| "The police strive to keep us and our families safe, taking risks so we can live peacefully. | "The police strive to keep us and our families safe, taking risks so we can live peacefully. |
| "When a police officer falls in the line of duty, their death is a reminder of the very real dangers they face day in, day out, as they put themselves in harm's way to deal with violent criminals and dangerous situations." | "When a police officer falls in the line of duty, their death is a reminder of the very real dangers they face day in, day out, as they put themselves in harm's way to deal with violent criminals and dangerous situations." |
| Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy's voice broke with emotion as she told a press conference: "It's a dark day when you lose one of our own and it's a painful reminder of the risks police officers face to keep us all safe." | Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy's voice broke with emotion as she told a press conference: "It's a dark day when you lose one of our own and it's a painful reminder of the risks police officers face to keep us all safe." |
| Peter Singleton, chairman of Merseyside Police Federation, said PC Phillips' colleagues are "understandably devastated". | Peter Singleton, chairman of Merseyside Police Federation, said PC Phillips' colleagues are "understandably devastated". |
| He added: "He was one of the best and will always be missed. | He added: "He was one of the best and will always be missed. |
| "His young children have been robbed of a father, his wife Jen, deprived of a husband and his parents, their son." | "His young children have been robbed of a father, his wife Jen, deprived of a husband and his parents, their son." |
| A statement from Merseyside Police said officers had earlier attended a burglary at the estate agents on Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead. | A statement from Merseyside Police said officers had earlier attended a burglary at the estate agents on Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead. |
| During the raid the offenders stole the red Mitsubishi pick-up vehicle, which was then pursued by officers. | During the raid the offenders stole the red Mitsubishi pick-up vehicle, which was then pursued by officers. |
| PC Phillips was one of two neighbourhood patrol officers who made efforts to stop the car on the A5139 Dock Road, police said. He was pronounced dead after being taken to Wirral's Arrowe Park Hospital. | PC Phillips was one of two neighbourhood patrol officers who made efforts to stop the car on the A5139 Dock Road, police said. He was pronounced dead after being taken to Wirral's Arrowe Park Hospital. |
| The officers had used a device known as a stop stick, which is thrown across the road and has spikes to burst vehicles' tyres. | The officers had used a device known as a stop stick, which is thrown across the road and has spikes to burst vehicles' tyres. |
| Detectives are now examining CCTV footage in a bid to identify the offenders. | Detectives are now examining CCTV footage in a bid to identify the offenders. |
| A green tarpaulin was placed at the spot where PC Phillips was struck as scenes of crime investigators examined the road. | A green tarpaulin was placed at the spot where PC Phillips was struck as scenes of crime investigators examined the road. |
| Wallasey Road North, Corbyn Street and the estate agents in Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead, remain cordoned off as forensic examinations take place. | Wallasey Road North, Corbyn Street and the estate agents in Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead, remain cordoned off as forensic examinations take place. |
| Diversions have been put in place at Wallasey Road North and Woodchurch Road. | Diversions have been put in place at Wallasey Road North and Woodchurch Road. |
| The Mitsubishi was found abandoned in Corbyn Street, Wallasey. | The Mitsubishi was found abandoned in Corbyn Street, Wallasey. |
| Officers are urging witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. | Officers are urging witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. |
| PC Phillips' death comes less than a year since off-duty Merseyside PC Neil Doyle was killed in an attack on a Christmas night out in Liverpool in December. | PC Phillips' death comes less than a year since off-duty Merseyside PC Neil Doyle was killed in an attack on a Christmas night out in Liverpool in December. |
| He is the first on-duty Merseyside Police officer to have been killed in a criminal act since PC Raymond Davenport in 1981. | He is the first on-duty Merseyside Police officer to have been killed in a criminal act since PC Raymond Davenport in 1981. |
| PC Davenport had been trying to stop a stolen car in Liverpool and was dragged along the road after reaching in through the driver's window. | PC Davenport had been trying to stop a stolen car in Liverpool and was dragged along the road after reaching in through the driver's window. |
| Mike Tonge, a former deputy chief constable of Merseyside Police, said officers would "pull together" during what is a "very difficult time". | Mike Tonge, a former deputy chief constable of Merseyside Police, said officers would "pull together" during what is a "very difficult time". |
| "Police will be feeling pain for the officer and his family, but people will pull together and get through this," he said. | "Police will be feeling pain for the officer and his family, but people will pull together and get through this," he said. |
| "Sadly the driver of this car has been so reckless that he's taken the life of a police officer. | "Sadly the driver of this car has been so reckless that he's taken the life of a police officer. |
| "Undoubtedly a review will take place to look at all the procedures for how this event has come to pass." | "Undoubtedly a review will take place to look at all the procedures for how this event has come to pass." |
| Phil Davies, leader of Wirral Council, said: 'We absolutely condemn the murder of this neighbourhood patrol officer, killed during the course of their duties. | Phil Davies, leader of Wirral Council, said: 'We absolutely condemn the murder of this neighbourhood patrol officer, killed during the course of their duties. |
| "As a council, we will do whatever we can to assist the police in their efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. | "As a council, we will do whatever we can to assist the police in their efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. |
| "I would like to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of the officer, and of course colleagues, who will be feeling the loss of one of their own very deeply this morning." | "I would like to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of the officer, and of course colleagues, who will be feeling the loss of one of their own very deeply this morning." |
| Hundreds of people have also taken to social media to leave tributes and express their shock. | Hundreds of people have also taken to social media to leave tributes and express their shock. |
| Surrey Police Chief Constable Lynne Owens wrote on Twitter: "Awful news from Merseyside Police. Sending heartfelt thoughts to family, friends and colleagues from all Surrey Police." | Surrey Police Chief Constable Lynne Owens wrote on Twitter: "Awful news from Merseyside Police. Sending heartfelt thoughts to family, friends and colleagues from all Surrey Police." |
| Lucy Parrott, an ambulance dispatcher for West Midlands Ambulance Service, wrote: "Heartbreaking news about Mersey Police this morning. Thoughts with them and ambulance colleagues that tried to save the officer." | Lucy Parrott, an ambulance dispatcher for West Midlands Ambulance Service, wrote: "Heartbreaking news about Mersey Police this morning. Thoughts with them and ambulance colleagues that tried to save the officer." |