PC Sharon Beshenivsky

PC Sharon Beshenivsky was a 38-year-old police officer, devoted wife and mother of five from Bradford whose life was tragically taken in November 2005.

She is remembered as a courageous and committed officer who served her community with dedication, professionalism and compassion. Her death had a profound impact on her family, colleagues and the wider policing community.

She was shot on 18 November 2005 while responding to a report of an armed robbery at a travel agency in Bradford. During the incident, she and her colleague were confronted by armed men, and Sharon was fatally shot while carrying out her duties.

Her murder occurred on her youngest daughter’s fourth birthday, adding to the deep tragedy of her loss.

Following a major police investigation, multiple men were convicted in connection with her death: Mustaf Jama, Yusuf Jama, Muzzaker Shah, and Piran Ditta Khan were all convicted of murder (along with robbery and firearms offences) and received life sentences with minimum terms ranging from 35 to 40 years; Faisal Razzaq and his brother Hassan Razzaq were convicted of manslaughter (plus robbery/firearms offences) and sentenced to life with a minimum of 11 years and 20 years respectively; and Raza Ul-Haq Aslam was convicted of robbery only and jailed for 8 years.

Khan, considered the gang’s mastermind, was the final (seventh) person convicted in 2024.

Rest in peace Sharon. You will not be forgotten.