Noel Joseph Lane
Sergeant

Noel Joseph Lane

Metropolitan Police — London, ENG
Felonious
End of Watch December 17, 1983
Age 28
The Vigil Panel 193 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Lane was killed instantly, alongside WPC Jane Phillipa Arbuthnot, as they and another officer, Inspector Stephen John Dodd, who died a week later, were investigating a reported terrorist car bomb and evacuating the area outside Harrods store in Knightsbridge, when the device exploded.

Three members of the public were also killed.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-GB-MEP-96FAFB27
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 8, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Lane served with the Metropolitan Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Lane.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Metropolitan Police
Location London, ENG
Platform Identity mpd.wsm.eng.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 17, 1983
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Bomb

Sergeant Noel Joseph Lane is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 29.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Metropolitan Police, 185 of 729 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25.4% of this agency's fallen.

Metropolitan Police
185
of 729 officers
25.4% Felonious
ENG — Statewide
702
of 2,827 officers
24.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Noel Joseph Lane's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Noel Joseph Lane Compares

Age at End of Watch
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Noel Joseph Lane is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518