Dozens of Line of Duty-style corrupt cops could be axed from a new £4million UK police memorial
Names of 1,400 officers and staff who died on duty are due to be carved on the monument, but top brass fear some have links to corruption
DOZENS of Line of Duty-style corrupt cops could be axed from a new £4million UK police memorial.
Names of 1,400 heroic officers and staff who died on duty are due to be carved on the 50ft-high monument.
But top brass fear some have links to corruption scandals from years ago.
Each case is being re-investigated to protect the integrity of the tribute, to be unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffs this year.
A spokesman said: “The assessments could potentially see the removal of dozens of police officers’ names.”
The new memorial has been backed by the Duke of Cambridge.
The Sun on Sunday understands one of the cases involves shamed ex-West Midlands Police PC Tony Salt, who died in April 1989 while on a surveillance op.
His official citation simply reads, “Died as a result of injuries sustained on duty”, but Salt’s death sparked a major scandal.
'WRONGLY CHARGED OVER COP'S DEATH'
It later emerged Salt, 30, had left his post in a flat to go boozing in a pub with another cop, before trying to get into the illegal drinking club he was supposed to be watching.
When he was turned away by doorman Tony Francis, the dad-of-three staggered back to his post, only to slip and smash his head on a parked JCB digger.
Salt died instantly and his force tried to cover up his death.
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Detectives instead nicked Francis on suspicion of murder, claiming he had set upon Salt, dragged him into an alleyway and beaten him to death.
Francis was charged after officers from the notorious West Midlands Serious Crimes Squad forced him to falsely confess.
He and two other men were later cleared of all charges after spending a year on remand and got £100,000 in an out-of-court settlement from the force.
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