Hunt for PC Blakelock’s killers will not end

The assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said it will not give up looking for the killers of PC Keith Blakelock after the man accused of his murder during the Broadwater Farm riots in 1985 was acquitted at the Old Bailey last week.

“There are people who know exactly who took part in the attack on Keith and people who took part themselves,” said Mark Rowley, after Nicky Jacobs was found not guilty after a six-week trial.

“It is not too late for you to come forward,” he added. “Almost 30 years on people’s lives are very different, their allegiances broken or shifted. Help us now.

“October 6, 1985, was an extremely sad day in the history of policing and no police officer serving at that time will ever forget it.

“Everyone in the police family should reflect on the barbaric and tragic events Keith and Serial 502 [the unit he was assigned to] experienced that night.”

After being called to the estate in Tottenham, London, during the Broadwater Farm riots on October 6, 1985, PC Blakelock was set upon by an armed mob.

He was stabbed 43 times; as he was dragged away from the mob a kitchen knife was still embedded in his neck.

To try to bring the killer to justice, the MPS offered immunity and money to several members of the mob who attacked PC Blakelock, who in turn agreed to cooperate with the investigation.

One of the witnesses in the trial of Mr Jacobs, known only as John Brown, admitted to being part of the mob and was given £5,000 for helping the MPS with PC Blakelock’s murder investigation in 1994.

Another witness, known as Rhodes Levin, admitted kicking PC Blakelock six times and carrying his helmet away as a trophy. He received more than £6,500 in payments from the MPS.

In 1987, three men were jailed for the murder but were released in 1991 after it was proven that police officers had made false witness statements during the trial.

MPS Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “The patience and determination that Keith’s widow, Elizabeth, has shown over the years as she has pushed for answers about her husband’s murder has been inspirational. She so richly deserves those answers and justice.

“We accept the decision of the jury and our work to bring those responsible for Keith’s murder to justice will not stop. I would like to thank the investigation team for their dedication and hard work over a number of years.”

In a statement, PC Blakelock’s family said: “We viewed this trial as an opportunity to see some form of justice served for Keith. We hope that more people are able to come forward so that some of those guilty can be brought to justice in the future.”

David Davies, MP for Monmouth, has called for full details of the MPS deals with PC Blakelock’s attackers to be made public.