Prayers In Manchester For Shot Policewomen

A Roman Catholic bishop has said the deaths of PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes serve as a reminder that police officers sometimes face "the savagery of the jungle".

It came as prayers were said for the two officers at church services across Greater Manchester.

Bishop Mark Davies told a congregation the policewomen "sought to bring peace and protection" to the community they served.

"The sound of gunfire and a grenade exploding in the streets of this parish, the death of two young women fulfilling their duty, tragically reminds us that the police service stands as our last line of defence against the savagery of the jungle," he said.

The bishop led prayers at the parish church of St James the Great not far from the spot in Hattersley where the two policewomen were killed last Tuesday attending what they thought was a routine burglary call.

The chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Peter Fahy, revealed a prayer vigil would be held this week so people could "express emotion together".

Following the deaths of the officers, the Greater Manchester force has received more than 30,000 messages on its online book of condolence, more than 20,000 messages on the force's Facebook page and more than 1.3 million people have viewed the tribute to the officers on Facebook.

In his homily Bishop Davies said: "We feel a sense of sorrow and outrage too. We recall how what is good in the dedicated service of the community met, on our own streets, with what is evil in the hate and violence which did not hesitate to indiscriminately kill.

"If our children are not to grow up accepting the murders of Tuesday as commonplace then the police and the community must stand as one in defence of human life, overcoming whatever obstacles may prevent this trust."

He added: "Police officers do not ask who it is that calls for their help but see their duty as responding to every emergency and so we remember today that they died here in our service, in fulfilling their duty for our protection

"I know how deeply the shock and horror of these events is felt by us all. Today, with so many across the world we remember and hold in our prayer these two police officers together with their families and loved ones and the many colleagues who deeply mourn their loss.

"I know the people of Hattersley have come through the darkest of days following the unspeakable evil of the Moors Murders which cast a shadow over the whole of Greater Manchester half a century ago.

"We may be tempted to despair of human nature in the face of such evil, yet together this morning we renew the faith we share: that evil will not in the end prevail, that all that is good will have the final and definitive word."

Dale Cregan, 29, has been charged with the murders of the two policewomen. He is also accused of killing David Short, 46, and his 23-year-old son Mark, who died in separate attacks in Clayton and Droylsden earlier this year.

He is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on Monday via videolink from HMP Manchester.

Police arrested a 15-year-old boy at a school in the Hattersley area on Friday afternoon.

The youngster was held on suspicion of assisting an offender - understood to be Cregan - and was released on bail until September 27 pending further inquiries.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said the investigation was a "complex and sensitive operation" as he urged the public to "search their conscience" and pass on any relevant information.