Reward offered in fresh appeal over officer's 1991 murder

Detective Constable Jim Morrison was off duty when he was stabbed in Montreal Place, Covent Garden, London on December 13, 1991, following a struggle with a man he was trying to arrest for a suspected bag theft.

The 26-year-old officer, renowned for his dedication to duty and flair for dealing with street crime, left a widow, Victoria.

Despite extensive inquiries and a number of arrests over the years, his killer has never been brought to justice.

The reward money will be paid for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person responsible.

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “Jim Morrison was a talented and dedicated officer who lived and worked in the borough of Westminster.

“Jim was inspirational; he had an insatiable appetite for police work and his dedication to the job was second to none. Jim always put in that bit extra to assist the community in which he both lived and worked.

“Over the years, officers have remained dogged in doing everything in their power to secure justice for Jim. Despite the passage of time, I believe there are people who still hold vital information about who is responsible for this murder.’

“Today, we continue to hold Jim’s family and friends in our thoughts, as we remember one of our own whose future was tragically taken from him.”

On the night of the incident, Det Con Morrison had gone to the Nell Gwynne pub at Bull Inn Court for around an hour from 8pm, before heading home.

However, a group of at least three bag snatchers had recently been working in the area to steal women’s’ purses and handbags – and that night a handbag had been stolen from the Maple Leaf pub in Maiden Lane.

Det Con Morrison was seen getting involved in a struggle with a man outside the London Transport Museum shortly after 10pm. The suspect broke free and a chase ensued, which ended with the officer being stabbed before the man fled.

At the time of the attack the suspect was described as being of Algerian or North African appearance, 5ft 10in tall and aged approximately 27 to 30.

He was of medium build, clean shaven and had dark collar length hair, with distinctive tight curls at the front. He was wearing a waist length tan/brown leather jacket.

Senior investigating officer on the case, Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Reeves, of Central Specialist Crime, said: “I think that the key to identifying his killer will be through continued help and information from the community, particularly the North African community, living and working in London’s West End in 1991.

“Det Con Morrison died trying to protect the public from a violent offender who was committing crime in the West End.

“He was off duty, unarmed, on his own and in plain clothes. With no regard for his own personal safety he chased the offender through the streets in order to arrest him. Members of the public tried to help him by blocking the offender’s path. His bravery and dedication to duty tragically resulted in him losing his life.’’

Over the years officers have followed leads in Germany, Belgium, Canada, France and Ireland in attempting to solve this case but with no breakthrough.

Det Chief Insp Reeves added: “Every year that goes by we make progress, but we are still short of the evidence that will signal a breakthrough in this case. I believe there are people who still hold vital information about who is responsible for Det Con Morrison’s murder.

“The answers Jim’s family need could lie with someone who lived in London in 1991, but is now abroad. They may not know that we are still investigating, but we never give up. Thirty years on we are still investigating and will not give up the search for justice.”