ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: assistcomm@cs.com, Web Site: www.assistnews.net


Wednesday, January 15, 2003

FORMER POLICE CHIEF PRAYS FOR HIS SON’S KILLER
Christian Police Detective Stabbed To Death During Terrorist Raid

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND  (ANS) -- The father of a British policeman stabbed to death during a counter-terrorism operation in Manchester, England, has said he is praying for the knifeman. (Pictured: Robin Oake).

Robin Oake, a career policeman with 30 years' experience, said he was "seeking God's forgiveness" for his son's killer, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported.

Special Branch Detective Constable Stephen Oake, a 40-year-old father-of-three, from Poynton, near Stockton, Cheshire, died after a raid linked to the discovery of the poison ricin in a north London flat last week.

The BBC said the slain officer’s father, Robin Oake, who is the former chief constable of the Isle of Man and served with the Manchester police force himself, said his son had his heart in all aspects of police work.

He said Stephen's death would be felt most keenly by his wife and three children.

'CHRISTIAN FAITH'

Robin Oake said: "I am praying for the perpetrator of this killing and seeking God's forgiveness for him - - praying also that he may now seek God himself and find peace and forgiveness with him."

The BBC reported that Robin Oake recalled how his son had joined Greater Manchester Police in 1984 and had served in central Manchester before working his way up through the traffic department and into Special Branch.

Robin Oake said: "Following the tragic death of Stephen, my son, and former colleague in the Greater Manchester Police, I simply want to pay tribute to him, his forefront work with Special Branch in his latter years and his gracious Christian faith.  (Pictured: Detective Constable Stephen Oake)

"Obviously my first thoughts are with his lovely wife Lesley and their three children - Christopher (15), Rebecca (14) and Corinne (12)."

ARMED ROBBERS

Oake, 65, added: "When I left the force to come to the island in April 1986, he carried on the family name in Manchester."

He spoke proudly of Stephen's work, including the arrest of two armed robbers in Salford and looking after an Israeli prime minister during a visit to Britain.

The BBC said praise for Stephen also came from Greater Manchester Chief Constable Mike Todd, who said: "The Special Branch officers, including Steve, very bravely went to assist their colleagues and that's how he has been fatally stabbed."

Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation, said: "Stephen paid the ultimate sacrifice last night for his family and for the families of the police officers who have been injured."

'RESPECTED MAN’

Stephen Oake had lived in Poynton, Cheshire, with his family and had been a member of the local Baptist Church for more than 10 years.

The Reverend Mark Elder, assistant minister at the church, described the detective as a "respected man of faith" with "so much integrity about him."

As the congregation gathered to say prayers for Stephen Oake the minister said: "You won't find anybody with something remotely negative to say about him, the BBC reported.

"His Christian faith was the driving force in his life. He had strong family values. He lived by those values and was a devoted family man."

COLLEAGUES PAY TRIBUTE TO PROUD OFFICER

Stephen Oake has been described by colleagues as a "thorough, competent and conscientious officer. "

According to the BBC, Detective Constable Stephen Oake, 40, was stabbed in the chest at a flat in Crumpsall during a raid linked with the discovery of the deadly poison ricin in London last week.

The married father-of-three had been with Greater Manchester Police for 20 years.

The BBC reported that, Oake, a Christian and regular churchgoer, worked in uniform in South Manchester for the first 15 years of his career, including eight years as a traffic officer.

“In April 1999 he transferred to the Special Branch working at Manchester Airport, in the forefront of the fight against terrorism,” the BBC said.

The BBC report continued: “During 2002 he worked extensively on the planning of VIP protection of royalty, government ministers and dignitaries at the Commonwealth Games for which his branch commander commended him.

“In January last year he was also commended for his professional skills and expertise in an investigation into passport fraud.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Bernard Postles said: "Steve was a thorough, competent and conscientious officer who had a strong desire to get on with the job he loved.

"He was proud to be a police officer and always gave 110 percent.

"This is evidenced by several letters from members of the public to his senior officers in which they wanted to record their thanks for what, on some occasions, must have seemed a minor courtesy extended by Steve, but which meant so much to those he had helped.

"His colleagues regarded him as a thoroughly reliable workmate. He was what is known in police circles as a prolific thief taker, whose tenacity is legendary in Greater Manchester Special Branch.

"That tenacity led to Steve giving his life for the public he was proud to serve."

Oake had been married to his wife Lesley for 20 years, and the couple have a 15-year-old son and two daughters, aged 14 and 12.

TRIBUTES PAID TO SLAIN OFFICER BY LEADING PUBLIC FIGURES

Tributes to police officer Stephen Oake have already been made by leading public figures following his murder in Crumpsall on Jan. 14, according to websites monitored by ASSIST News Service (ANS).

Leading the political tributes was Prime Minister Tony Blair, who said: “I was shocked and very saddened to learn of the death of this brave police officer. It is an appalling tragedy and wicked in the extreme.

“The thoughts of everyone must be with his family and his colleagues. His death and the injuries to the other officers involved in this incident underline the dangers that our police and security forces face in these times.”

The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, said in a statement that he was “shocked and saddened” to hear of DC Oake’s murder.

“I commend the bravery and commitment of these police officers in defending us not only against dangerous criminals but against those threatening the safety of our country.”

Greater Manchester Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Alan Green paid tribute to his fallen officer, saying: “We have lost a colleague and many people have lost a friend.”

Manchester city council leader Councillor Richard Leese said: “We would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of the police officer who has been killed, and our thoughts are with those officers who have been injured

Crumpsall councillor Alan Spinks said: “I am sure I speak on behalf of the people of Crumpsall when I say our deepest sympathies go out to the family of the policeman who was killed and the families of those policemen who were injured.

Paul Kelly, Manchester spokesman for the National Police Federation, said that the city would sleep under the veil of protection of an officer who was "Held in the highest regard by his colleagues and supervisors".

He added: "He was an absolute asset to the force, a great ambassador and sadly he has found himself making the ultimate sacrifice for us all."

Detective Chief Superintendent Bernard Postles said: "Steve was a thorough, competent and conscientious officer who had a strong desire to get on with the job he loved.

"He was proud to be a police officer and always gave 110 per cent. This is evidenced by several letters from members of the public to his senior officers, in which they wanted to record their thanks.

"His colleagues regarded him as a thoroughly reliable workmate. One of them referred to the fact that if you wanted a job doing you asked Steve because you knew he would get it done.

"He was what is known in police circles as a prolific thief taker, whose tenacity is legendary in Greater Manchester Special Branch. That tenacity led to Steve giving his life for the public he was proud to serve."

Tory Member of Parliament Oliver Letwin said he thought the country as a whole would mourn a man he hailed as a "hero who died defending us from terrorism", while Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Simon Hughes added: “Our support and solidarity goes to the officers of Greater Manchester.”
** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to United Christian Broadcasters, Europe Radio, a British Christian radio station.
E-mail: .
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.
   Send this story to a friend.