Public back stabbed officer medal

Mr Oake left behind a wife and three children

More than 7,000 people have signed a petition calling for the government to honour a murdered police officer.

Det Con Stephen Oake was stabbed to death during an anti-terrorism raid in Manchester in January 2003.

Clive Chamberlain, chairman of Dorset Police Federation, has since campaigned to reverse a decision not to award Mr Oake a George Cross.

Mr Chamberlain has packed away his own long service medals in protest and is set to return them to the government.

'System devalued'

He told BBC News: "Steven Oake paid with his life and I really believe that some form of recognition should be given to him.

"He's a colleague that went out one day and never came home.

Kamel Bourgass was jailed for life for murder in 2004

"I've got medals that I'm proud to have, but for me the whole honours system is devalued when somebody, who is so deserving, doesn't receive any recognition for what they have done."

Mr Oake, a married father-of-three from Cheshire, was killed as he tried to restrain Kamal Bourgass at a flat in Crumpsall.

Bourgass attacked Mr Oake with a kitchen knife, stabbing him in the chest eight times.

Since his death, protesters have called on the prime minister to honour Mr Oake.

A spokeswoman for Number 10 said they were unable to comment until the petition closed next month.