Carl Walker
Encyclopedia
Inspector Carl Walker, GC
, (born 31 March 1934) is a former police officer
who served in the Lancashire Constabulary
until 1982 when he was forced to retire due to injuries sustained in a shooting in Blackpool
, an incident after which he was awarded the George Cross
.
On 23 August 1971, when Walker was a constable, he was one of several officers who pursued a gang of five armed robbers who had attacked a jeweller's shop in Blackpool. When the gang split up, Walker and his colleague and superior Superintendent Gerry Richardson chased one of the raiders down a dead-end alleyway. 'Fat' Fred Sewell shot Walker in the groin then Richardson twice in the stomach. Richardson died of his injuries later that day, and was also later awarded the George Cross albeit posthumously.
The award citations were published in the London Gazette
on 13 November 1972.
All five robbers were jailed, including Sewell who served thirty years for wounding Walker and for murdering
Richardson; he was released in 2001 when aged 68. Sewell was reported to have amassed a wealth of around £1 million from property dealings while in prison.
Walker was discharged from the police force on medical grounds in 1982.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, (born 31 March 1934) is a former police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
who served in the Lancashire Constabulary
Lancashire Constabulary
Lancashire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the ceremonial county of Lancashire in the North West England. The force's headquarters are at Hutton, near the city of Preston...
until 1982 when he was forced to retire due to injuries sustained in a shooting in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, an incident after which he was awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
.
On 23 August 1971, when Walker was a constable, he was one of several officers who pursued a gang of five armed robbers who had attacked a jeweller's shop in Blackpool. When the gang split up, Walker and his colleague and superior Superintendent Gerry Richardson chased one of the raiders down a dead-end alleyway. 'Fat' Fred Sewell shot Walker in the groin then Richardson twice in the stomach. Richardson died of his injuries later that day, and was also later awarded the George Cross albeit posthumously.
The award citations were published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 13 November 1972.
All five robbers were jailed, including Sewell who served thirty years for wounding Walker and for murdering
Murder in English law
Murder is an offence under the common law of England and Wales. It is considered the most serious form of homicide, in which one person kills another either intending to cause death or intending to cause serious injury .-Actus reus:The definition of the actus reus Murder is an offence under the...
Richardson; he was released in 2001 when aged 68. Sewell was reported to have amassed a wealth of around £1 million from property dealings while in prison.
Walker was discharged from the police force on medical grounds in 1982.