Coventry memorial plaque for police officer killed on duty

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A plaque has been unveiled marking 50 years since the death of a police officer who was killed on duty



PC Peter Guthrie, 21, was shot at point blank range whilst investigating a break in at a gun shop in Coventry.

Anthony Jeffs had lain in wait for the officer and his colleague, Sgt Gordon Meredith, at the store on Far Gosford Street.

The gunman was convicted of murder and handed a life sentence to serve a minimum of 20 years, police said.



The newly-wed officer was responding to reports of an alarm going off at C G Davies and Son on 22 July 1972 when he was killed.

Sgt Meredith then pursued the gunman, tackling him after he had escaped through a window.

He was also shot in the thigh, but crucially managed to keep hold of the gun, said West Midlands Police.



PC Guthrie was posthumously awarded the Queens Police Medal for gallantry with Sgt Meredith was awarded the George Medal for his bravery.

Members of the National Association of Retired Police Officers and the Police Memorial Trust gathered at the site in Coventry on Friday with the officer's widow Annamarie.

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Murdered police officer's memorial plaque smashed



The sister of a murdered police officer said she was "gutted and shocked" that his memorial plaque had been smashed.

The plaque on Far Gosford Street, Coventry, lies close to where PC Peter Guthrie was shot dead in 1972 while investigating a break in at a gun shop.

Coventry Police said it was called on Sunday to a report of damage and appealed to the public for information.

Lindsay Blundell described the damage as "mindless vandalism".

The memorial was unveiled in July 2022 to mark 50 years since the newly married PC Guthrie was killed while on duty.

The 21-year-old was shot at point-blank range by gunman Anthony Jeffs, who was later convicted of his murder.

Ms Blundell, who was 16 at the time, remembered hearing her mum screaming downstairs after officers came to the house to deliver the news.

“He was always somebody who would look after me," she said. “It’s 52 years ago but you still miss the person."

The officer was posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry, external.

Chair of The Police Memorial Trust, Geraldine Winner, said: "We can assure the officer's family, friends and colleagues that the memorial will be replaced."

Ms Blundell said she was grateful to the trust.

"I think people do need somewhere they can pay their respects to people that have been killed in the line of duty."

Det Ch Insp Adam Jobson from Coventry Police said the force did not yet know how the plaque was damaged but was "determined to establish the details".