EXCLUSIVE

NO MEMORIAL TO FALLEN COPPER

17-01-2007

Birmingham police officer Mick Swindells who was killed in the line of duty is to be awarded the Queens Gallantry Medal - but The Stirrer can reveal that talks to get a memorial erected to him in the city have stalled.

Mick was stabbed to death in 2004 by Earl Glaister Butler, a paranoid schizophrenic, after being called to an incident in Aston.

Paul Tonks of the West Midlands Police Federation said: “His actions epitomised what sort of man he was. He was fully aware of the dangers. He knew there was a madman on the street with a knife.”

Glaister Butler, who had already been certified twice, was later convicted of manslaughter, and isbeing detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure.

Meanwhile Mick's bravery has now been recognised at the highest level - which makes it all the more remarkable that there is no monument to him locally.

Michael Winner's charity The National Police Memorial Trust, which previously put up a memorial to Mac Walker an officer killed in Perry Barr might have been expected to do the same for Mick.

But although they have had discussions with the Police Federation, The Stirrer understands that so far there's be no agreement as to how it would be funded.

All very disappointing. The truth is that if the Trust is unable to arrange a monument to Mick, then one way or another the people of Birmingham should find a way of doing so.