Yvonne Fletcher killer could now face justice

Calls have been made for the killer of Yvonne Fletcher, who was shot dead more than 25 years ago while policing a demonstration outside the Libyan embassy in central London, to be brought to justice following the seizure of the Libyan capital Tripoli by forces opposing Muammar Gaddafi’s rule.

PC Fletcher, from Semley, near Shaftesbury, was shot as she policed a small demonstration outside the Libyan embassy in 1984. However, since the killing, in which shots were fired from inside the embassy, no one has been brought to justice with the killers allowed to leave due to their diplomatic immunity and police unable to question potential suspects before they left.

Despite pressure from police organisations and promises from successive governments, the 25-year-old’s killer remains at large.

This week, however, the International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, said he believes the revolution taking place in the North African country could lead to the gunman responsible for the “outrageous crime”` being held accountable.

He said that following a free Libya under the control of the National Transitional Council, the Government will pursue the issue, adding that there is a good chance a judicial process will begin in a bid to finally bring the gunman to justice.

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) welcomed the news and said the Government now has the perfect opportunity to identify the killer.

Simon Reed, vice-chairman of the PFEW, said: “It’s been going on far too long and I think all governments have been reluctant to do anything about it. This is the opportunity to do the right thing now.”

He acknowledged that the pursuit of the gunman “went off the agenda for many, many years”, but the PFEW has remained hopeful justice will be seen.

“We know it has not always been a priority for politicians, but for us it always was.

“We were realistic enough to know there were times when there was nothing likely to happen, but we’ve always thought that at some point we will identify this person and we will see justice delivered.”

Mr Reed added that previous governments have constantly made promises, which ultimately did not materialise, but the biggest frustration was the killers were allowed to leave the UK when their identity was probably known. The PFEW will now remind the Government of pledges that were made in the past.

Prime Minister David Cameron wrote to the Libyan leader in July last year, as part of a series of “intense representations” which resulted in a UK delegation visiting Tripoli in August 2010 over a stalled investigation into the shooting.