The fathers of two police officers murdered on duty are backing a Daily Express crusade for injured 999 staff to be awarded medals.

Unarmed PCs Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, were killed by Dale Cregan in a gun and grenade onslaught as they responded to reports of a burglary in 2012.

Their families were honoured with the new Elizabeth Emblem in December 2024, after tireless campaigning by their proud, grieving fathers Paul Bone and Bryn Hughes. It recognises emergency workers and other public servants who died in the line of duty.

But no such reward exists for those left injured while in service and now the two dads are urging the government to launch one. Bryn said: "I support this campaign because this award will mean officers will know they've not been forgotten.

"Nothing will take away the injuries or the psychological trauma, but this will say to officers, 'You are being thought of, you are being recognised'."

Backing the Honour Our Injured 999 Heroes campaign for an Injured In Service Medal, Bryn added: "Nicola clung to life until she arrived at hospital. She was paralysed by the first shot that hit her, so if she had survived she would have been paralysed.

"What recognition would she have got? Nothing official."

Bryn worked in the prison service for more than 25 years before having to leave in the wake of his daughter's killing.

Nicola and Fiona were praised by their then-Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy after their murders in Tameside, Greater Manchester, as "brave and courageous colleagues who exemplified the very best of British policing".

David Cameron, Prime Minister at the time, called the killings "a shocking reminder of the debt we owe to those who put themselves in danger to keep us safe and secure". Paul and Bryn were among the first group of relatives to receive the Elizabeth Emblem after it was approved in March 2024 following their campaigning.

The King presented the silver award to each of them at the inaugural presentation at Windsor Castle in December that year.

Its design incorporates a rosemary wreath - a traditional symbol of remembrance - surrounding the Tudor Crown. It is inscribed For A Life Given In Service and, on the reverse, has the name of the person being commemorated.

The two dads wear the emblems proudly as they attend every passing out parade for Greater Manchester Police, the force in which their daughters served.

They appear at the ceremonies 11 times a year and present the best recruit trophy in memory of Nicola and Fiona. Paul said: "The introduction of the Elizabeth Emblem meant my daughter Fiona and her police partner Nicola Hughes, along with many other public servants, were awarded the posthumous recognition they rightly deserved.

"However it does not include those who were severely injured, barely survived and are medically retired. These individuals also deserve recognition for their sacrifice. This is why I support this campaign to honour all emergency service personnel."

He added: "Every time you step out of a police station you don't actually know what's going to happen to you, whether you'll be injured or even die.

"You can't prepare yourself for it, and you certainly can't prepare your family for it because who would want to go out if you know you're going to be killed or injured that day? Our brave police officers and emergency services men and women, that's who."

MPs voted through the motion for the Injury in Service Award in November. Following campaigning by the Daily Express, the policing minister Sarah Jones met medal campaigner Tom Curry for the first time in February.

She agreed to write to MPs confirming that the government is giving the issue attention and moving it forward, with a commitment to reconvene in six months to review progress. The Cabinet Office's Honours andAppointments Secretariat would need to put the proposal before the King.

Mr Curry, founder of the 999 Injured and Forgotten campaign, said: "I will be eternally grateful to Bryn and Paul for adding their valued support to the campaign for the 999 injured.

"Having received the posthumous Elizabeth Emblem, they are both fully aware that had either of their daughters survived, but with life-changing injury, there is currently no recognition available.

"It is for that crucial reason that the campaign seeks to change this national disgrace."

Liberal Democrat MP Tom Morrison has backed calls for a medal for the injured from the start. He told the Daily Express: "I'm proud that the injury in service campaign has the backing of people like Bryn Hughes and Paul Bone, who lost their daughters who were doing the jobs they loved.There's real momentum to make this award a reality and we must not let up."

Shadow policing and crime minister Matt Vickers added: "Our honours system rightly recognises courage and sacrifice.

"Yet too often those injured in uniform are left without formal recognition.

"That is a gap that needs to be closed. This campaign is about ensuring our values are reflected in how we recognise service, and that those who have paid a lasting price are not overlooked."

Cregan, now aged 43, will die behind bars after he was handed a whole life prison sentence at Preston crown court in 2013.

The trial heard that he had made a false 999 call to lure the officers into an ambush, firing 32 shots as the two women arrived.