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'Life Means Life' Sentence Call After Cop Death

'Life Means Life' Sentence Call After Cop Death

The Home Secretary has been urged to ensure the toughest "life means life" sentence for police killers is brought in following the death of PC David Phillips, who was mown down by a driver in a stolen car.

Steve White, who heads the Police Federation in England and Wales which represents rank-and-file officers, told Sky News his members expected "the full force of the law" to be brought down on those responsible for the deadly hit-and-run on Merseyside.

A memorial fund has now been set up in memory of the father-of-two, who was killed in on Monday morning.

The officer had been trying to use a stinger device to stop the stolen red pick-up truck as it travelled alongside the docks in Wallasey being pursued by police.

The 34-year-old was hit by the Mitsubishi Challenger L200 which had earlier been stolen during a burglary in Birkenhead.

PC Phillips was given emergency first aid by colleagues and taken to hospital but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

His death is being treated as a murder and an investigation is under way, led by detectives from the serious organised crime squad.

Mr White said: "Our hearts go out to the family of PC Phillips. But I know that he service will come together, they will support each other and the family of PC Phillips.

"We will respond with dignity to what has happened.

"We will find those awful killers and we will expect the full force of the law to come down on them.

He added: "Of course there has to be a deterrent.

"The Home Secretary at our conference a couple of years ago announced that life would mean life for killers of police officers.

"That was something we had been calling for and we should make sure that does happen."

He went on: "I am going to be making sure that the guidelines that she spoke about in terms of life meaning life does come to fruition."