Met Commissioner pays tribute to officer on 35th anniversary of her murder

The 25-year-old had been deployed to monitor a demonstration outside the Libyan People’s Bureau. Just after 10.15 in the morning a number of shots were fired from an automatic weapon from within the bureau. WPC Fletcher was hit in the back and died a short time later at Westminster Hospital.  

Ms Dick said: “I was a young officer in the Met 35 years ago when Yvonne was shot. In 1984 I worked from West End Central – just half a mile from St James’ Square. That terrible event shook all of us who were in the Met at that time. All these years later there may be fewer people who directly experienced the impact of those events still in the Met, but as a police family we still collectively feel her loss. Today we mark her death and remember the contribution she made as a valued colleague and as a police woman, dedicated to the public, and we think of her family.” 

A statement issued by the MPS said: “WPC Yvonne Fletcher was murdered in an act of state sponsored terrorism. Shot in broad daylight her death evoked a powerful reaction from both the public and officers at the time. 35 years later, and as we mark 100 years since the first women joined the Met as officers and significant contribution they have made, her death is as poignant today. 

“Every year, on the anniversary of her murder the commissioner visits her memorial in St James Square and lays a wreath to remember and pay tribute to our colleague WPC Yvonne Fletcher. The investigation into her murder remains open and we are absolutely committed to bringing justice to her and her family.”