A Banbury police inspector who died after being run over at a roadblock in Oxfordshire almost 40 years ago has been remembered in a national police memorial.

Insp James Bradley, who was 41 and married with three children, died a month after being run over in December 1966.

At the trial of the London-based thieves -- Richard Woodrow and George Pugh, who were jailed for manslaughter in March the following year -- the then Recorder of Oxford, Mr Justice Swanwick, described the killing as being close to the border-line of murder.

The memorial structure, designed by British architect Norman Foster, is dedicated to the 'courage and personal sacrifice' of police officers killed in the line of duty. It was unveiled by the Queen in The Mall, London.

The £2m project, the result of a long-running campaign by film director Michael Winner, the founder of the Police Memorial Association, is a black granite centrepiece encased within a glass display panel. It contains the names of 1,600 officers who died while on duty.

John Donlon, the acting Assistant Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police, said: "This memorial is a fitting tribute to the huge sacrifices police officers and their families have made over the years.

"The force also has its own memorial at Police Headquarters in Kidlington, where officers and staff can remember those who died while on duty."

Prime Minister Tony Blair, Conservative leader Michael Howard and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy attended the unveiling ceremony.