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|name = Raymond Codling
|name = Raymond Codling
|image = Raymond Codling Memorial.jpg
|image = Raymond Codling Memorial.jpg
|caption = Memorial to Inspector Codling at Birch Services
|caption = Memorial to Codling at the Birch motorway services
|birth_date =
|birth_date =
|death_date = 14 September 1989 (aged 49)
|death_date = 14 September 1989 (aged 49)
|badgenumber =
|badgenumber =
|birth_place =
|birth_place =
|death_place = Birch Services, [[M62 motorway|M62]], [[Heywood, Lancashire]], England
|death_place = Birch services, [[M62 motorway|M62]], [[Heywood, Lancashire|Heywood]], Lancashire
|nickname =
|nickname =
|department = [[Greater Manchester Police]]
|department = [[Greater Manchester Police]]
Line 18: Line 18:
}}
}}


'''Raymond Anthony Codling''' was an [[Inspector]] with [[Greater Manchester Police]] who was murdered at the Birch Motorway Service Area on the [[M62 motorway|M62]] in 1989.
'''Raymond Anthony Codling''' was an [[Inspector]] with [[Greater Manchester Police]] who was murdered at a motorway service station near [[Heywood, Lancashire|Heywood]], Lancashire, in 1989.


In the early hours of 14 September 1989, Inspector Codling, in company with sergeant Bowden, arrived at Birch Sevices on the M62, looking for a white van, the details for which had been circlated by radio. The saw a motorcyclist whom they approached and he provided them with his details, which later proved to be false. A short time later they saw the man again, acting suspiciously, and the two officers approached him.
In the early hours of 14 September 1989, Codling, aged 49, in company with 45-year-old Sergeant James Bowden, arrived at Birch motorway services between junctions 18 and 19 on the [[M62 motorway|M62], looking for a white van, the details for which had been circulated by radio. The officers saw a motorcyclist whom they approached and he provided them with his details, which later proved to be false. A short time later they saw the man again, acting suspiciously, and the two officers approached him.


Sergeant Bowden noticed that the man had a large knife in his belt and was holding his right hand inside his jacket. Sergeant Bowden attempted to seize the knife but the man pulled back and drew out a 9 mm [[pistol]]. The man fired almost immediately at Bowden, but he escaped injury as the bullet was fired across his body and was deflected by the thick leather cover of his notebook in a breast pocket. The man then fired at Inspector Codling who fell to the ground. The man fired a second shot, killing the Inspector. Sergeant Bowden attempted to give chase but was hit by a gunshot in the leg and was forced to take cover. The man escaped.
Bowden noticed that the man had a large knife in his belt and was holding his right hand inside his jacket. Bowden attempted to seize the knife but the man pulled back and drew out a 9 mm [[pistol]]. The man fired almost immediately at Bowden, but he escaped injury as the bullet was fired across his body and was deflected by the thick leather cover of his notebook in a breast pocket. The man then shot Codling in the chest; as he laid on the ground injured, a second shot was fired at Codling's face, killing him.<ref>http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1107719_hero_cops_widow_snubbed</ref> Bowden attempted to give chase but was hit by a gunshot in the leg and was forced to take cover. The suspect escaped.


The attacker was tracked to a garage in [[Burnley]]. When officers entered they found the offender's body. He had killed himself with the same gun used in the attack. No motive was ever established for the murder, except that the attacker had recently carried out a series of [[armed robbery|armed robberies]] and had indicated his desire to kill a police officer following an earlier court appearance for a minor offence for which he had been fined.
After a manhunt, the gunman, later identified as Anthony Hughes from [[Baguley]], was traced to a garage in [[Kendray]], South Yorkshire.<ref>http://radio.bufvc.ac.uk/lbc/index.php/segment/0010200380004</ref> When officers entered they found Hughes' body; he had killed himself with the same gun used in the attack on Codling and Bowden. No motive was ever established for the attack, except that Hughes had previously carried out a series of [[armed robbery|armed robberies]], had served 15 years in prison for a string of violent offences, and had indicated his desire to kill a police officer following an earlier court appearance for a minor offence for which he was fined.<ref>http://radio.bufvc.ac.uk/lbc/index.php/segment/0010200380009</ref>


In 1991 a memorial to Inspector Codling was unveiled at the murder location by Michael Winner of the [[Police Memorial Trust]] and the [[Home Secretary]] [[Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking|Kenneth Baker]]<ref>[http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/7588782F3B5C6C508025710A0060117D.htm Greater Manchester Police - Inspector Raymond Anthony Codling at "OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY"]</ref> In February 2010 the [[Bishop of Manchester]], Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, met Inspector Codling's widow Linda, at a special memorial service at the Birch Service area.<ref>[http://menmedia.co.uk/middletonguardian/news/s/1192233_bishop_meets_murdered_cops_widow "Bishop meets murdered cop’s widow" in Middleton Guardian at menmedia.co.uk]</ref>
In 1991, a memorial to Codling was unveiled at the place of his death by [[Michael Winner]] of the [[Police Memorial Trust]], and the [[Home Secretary]] [[Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking|Kenneth Baker]].<ref>[http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/7588782F3B5C6C508025710A0060117D.htm Greater Manchester Police - Inspector Raymond Anthony Codling at "OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY"]</ref> In February 2010 the [[Bishop of Manchester]], Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, met Codling's widow Linda at a memorial service at the Birch services.<ref>[http://menmedia.co.uk/middletonguardian/news/s/1192233_bishop_meets_murdered_cops_widow "Bishop meets murdered cop’s widow" in Middleton Guardian at menmedia.co.uk]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 10:59, 24 March 2012

Raymond Codling
Memorial to Codling at the Birch motorway services
Died14 September 1989 (aged 49)
Birch services, M62, Heywood, Lancashire
Police career
DepartmentGreater Manchester Police
RankInspector

Raymond Anthony Codling was an Inspector with Greater Manchester Police who was murdered at a motorway service station near Heywood, Lancashire, in 1989.

In the early hours of 14 September 1989, Codling, aged 49, in company with 45-year-old Sergeant James Bowden, arrived at Birch motorway services between junctions 18 and 19 on the [[M62 motorway|M62], looking for a white van, the details for which had been circulated by radio. The officers saw a motorcyclist whom they approached and he provided them with his details, which later proved to be false. A short time later they saw the man again, acting suspiciously, and the two officers approached him.

Bowden noticed that the man had a large knife in his belt and was holding his right hand inside his jacket. Bowden attempted to seize the knife but the man pulled back and drew out a 9 mm pistol. The man fired almost immediately at Bowden, but he escaped injury as the bullet was fired across his body and was deflected by the thick leather cover of his notebook in a breast pocket. The man then shot Codling in the chest; as he laid on the ground injured, a second shot was fired at Codling's face, killing him.[1] Bowden attempted to give chase but was hit by a gunshot in the leg and was forced to take cover. The suspect escaped.

After a manhunt, the gunman, later identified as Anthony Hughes from Baguley, was traced to a garage in Kendray, South Yorkshire.[2] When officers entered they found Hughes' body; he had killed himself with the same gun used in the attack on Codling and Bowden. No motive was ever established for the attack, except that Hughes had previously carried out a series of armed robberies, had served 15 years in prison for a string of violent offences, and had indicated his desire to kill a police officer following an earlier court appearance for a minor offence for which he was fined.[3]

In 1991, a memorial to Codling was unveiled at the place of his death by Michael Winner of the Police Memorial Trust, and the Home Secretary Kenneth Baker.[4] In February 2010 the Bishop of Manchester, Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, met Codling's widow Linda at a memorial service at the Birch services.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1107719_hero_cops_widow_snubbed
  2. ^ http://radio.bufvc.ac.uk/lbc/index.php/segment/0010200380004
  3. ^ http://radio.bufvc.ac.uk/lbc/index.php/segment/0010200380009
  4. ^ Greater Manchester Police - Inspector Raymond Anthony Codling at "OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY"
  5. ^ "Bishop meets murdered cop’s widow" in Middleton Guardian at menmedia.co.uk
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