Beaten and stabbed to death by a mob during large scale rioting. Posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
From an article in the Guardian:
Constables Blakelock and Coombes were attacked by a mob during riots on Broadwater Farm estate {Tottenham} on October 6 1985. The violence was sparked by the death of Cynthia Jarrett, 49, who suffered heart failure during a police raid on her home. PC Blakelock died at the scene while PC Coombes was so severely wounded he never resumed active duty. Winston Silcott was convicted of the murder in 1987 but cleared on appeal four years later.
We learn from The Londoneer that, in October 2011, the Bruce Castle museum has a display dedicated to the Broadwater Farm riots.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has further researched this man. Keith Henry Blakelock was born on 28 June 1945 in Sunderland, County Durham. In 1970 he married Elizabeth E. Robson in Durham and they had three sons Mark Blakelock (b.1972), Kevin Daniel Blakelock (b.1974) and Lee Blakelock (b.1976) whose births were all registered in Sunderland.
He joined the Metropolitan Police on 14 November 1980, and was assigned to a response team in Hornsey before becoming a home beat officer in Muswell Hill.
He was murdered, aged 40 years, on 6 October 1985 and his body was buried in East Finchley Cemetery and Crematorium, 122 East End Road East Finchley, London, N2 0RZ. Administration of his estate was granted on 24 February 1986 and probate records show his home address to have been 12 Glenmere Avenue, London, N7. His effects did not exceed £40,000.
His name is recorded in the UK Police Roll of Honour that is displayed in the National Police Memorial on Cambridge Green, Horse Guards Road, London, SW1, the Book of Remembrance at the Metropolitan Police Memorial, Peel Centre, Aerodrome Road, Hendon, London, NW9 5JE and the Metropolitan Police Roll of Honour at New Scotland Yard, Curtis Green Building, Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London SW1A 2JL.
