Police Constable Christopher Hart, a response officer with Greater Manchester Police, died in a road accident on 12 January, 2008. The 40-year-old officer, who was based at Bury, was responding to an emergency call just before midnight.

The police van he was driving was in collision with a VW Polo car at the junction of Alan Turing Way, Ashton Old Road and Pottery Lane in Openshaw, Manchester. A colleague travelling with PC Hart received minor injuries as did three people in the car.

Born and brought up in Bury, PC Hart was a keen angler and had worked in the butchery trade and local shops before joining the force. He left a six-year-old son and his parents, Dorothy and Michael Hart from Cumbria.

Chief Superintendent Jon Rush said: “Chris had been brought up within the Bury area, he has a six year old son and was a devoted father. He joined the force just over four years ago, since then he had developed into a highly professional and motivated officer.

“This was a tragic incident that has claimed the life of a dedicated service officer and a well loved father.

”He was serving the community when he died, it was a job he loved and he was well known and respected for the enthusiastic and passionate way he policed the community.”

Roll of Honour Citation

Killed in a road traffic collision, whilst responding to an emergency incident just before midnight, when the police van he was driving was in collision with a car at Openshaw; the police vehicle overturned and he sustained major head injuries from which he died instantly.