The tense conclusion of the siege at the Iranian embassy in Kensington, central London, is hailed as an extraordinary demonstration of bravery by the SAS. Over the course of the six-day standoff, officer PC Trevor Lock exhibited remarkable composure and resourcefulness.

Lock, who passed away at the age of 85, was on duty on April 30, 1980, when a group of six gunmen, armed and backed by Iraq, stormed in, demanding autonomy for the lucrative Khuzestan province, firing their automatic weapons as they entered.

Recently assigned to the Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG), he had momentarily stepped away from his post to accept a coffee from the embassy’s concierge on a dreary day. Had the tall, stocky Lock—standing at 6 feet 2 inches—stayed at his station with his firearm ready, he likely would have met a fatal shot.

The chaos of gunfire and Lock’s quick actions in activating an emergency alarm on his radio brought in police reinforcements, resulting in a tense situation that was broadcast to a global audience. Twenty-six individuals, including Iranian officials and two BBC journalists applying for visas, were taken hostage. While five were released, threats to execute diplomats escalated.

Despite being injured by shards of glass and searched, Lock successfully concealed his Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver. He declined food, wary that being escorted to the restroom could expose the weapon. As Ben Macintyre later remarked in his book, The Siege, it was a remarkable demonstration of self-restraint. Eventually, he agreed to freshen up, managing to keep the gun hidden even under scrutiny.

He believed that shooting would not enable him to overpower the armed abductors, who were wielding grenades and machine guns. Instead, he focused on earning their trust while reassuring the terrified hostages.

From a window of the embassy, Lock acted as a liaison between the assailants and the security forces encircling the premises, remaining alert while others rested, lightening the mood with humor.

When sounds from the neighboring Ethiopian embassy aroused the gunmen’s suspicion—caused by drilling holes for listening devices—Lock dismissed the noise, attributing it to mice scuttling through the aged structure.

He intervened to restrain one desperate hostage attempting to confront a gunman and even suggested driving the captors to the airport if they could leave peacefully. Unfortunately, he was unable to shield the embassy press attaché, Abbas Lavasani, a staunch supporter of Ayatollah Khomeini, who was bound and shot; his body was subsequently ejected from the building.

The assassination led to the decision to commence the SAS assault on May 5. Upon realizing that the embassy was being breached, Lock tackled the lead assailant, Towfiq al-Rashidi, and aimed his revolver at the startled kidnapper’s head.

He later recounted that while he contemplated pulling the trigger, he ultimately refrained from killing in an impulse of rage due to his training. As the situation escalated with gas canisters and stun grenades detonating, SAS members entered the room, instructed Lock to step back, and opened fire on Rashidi.

Five of the six captors were killed. Lock’s patience and his style of policing, reminiscent of the character from the television show Dixon of Dock Green, were later juxtaposed against the aggressive tactics of the SAS.

Lock was born in Gants Hill, Ilford, which was then part of Essex, and attended school in the area. He served in the army during his national service in Libya, where he picked up a few Arabic phrases that provided levity during the lengthy embassy crisis.

Before joining the police force in 1965, Lock worked at the Ford factory in Dagenham. He was assigned as a beat officer in Barking until early 1980 when he sought a position with the DPG, the specialized unit tasked with embassy security in London.

His first wife passed away in 1971, and he later married Doreen Easton, a nurse and former police officer, with whom he shared six children—three from previous marriages. Lock had plans to take Doreen to the theater for a surprise outing the night he was captured.

Following the resolution of the siege, Lock was recognized for his bravery and composure, receiving the George Medal for his “remarkable courage, unwavering bravery, calmness, and commitment to duty,” as well as the Freedom of the City of London. The Metropolitan commissioner, Sir David McNee, described him as the very embodiment of valor.

However, Lock never considered himself a hero, believing that most police officers would have acted in a similar manner. He felt guilt over not being able to save Lavasani and admitted to experiencing post-traumatic stress, seeking psychiatric support. “I dread Bonfire Night because of the loud bangs,” he shared in an interview. “I hide under the table with the dog.”

He experienced reluctance about returning to the DPG, becoming an observer on police helicopter patrols before transferring to traffic control on the M11 motorway. After preserving his George Medal in his wife’s knitting basket for years, he eventually donated it to the police museum.

Lock retired in 1992 but resumed work as a civilian in traffic control, as he despised having idle time. In later years, he enjoyed supporting West Ham and cared for Doreen, who faced osteoarthritis. In recognition of their contributions to the community and their work with the Independent Living Agency, a plaque was unveiled at their home on the Becontree estate in east London in 2022.

Doreen passed away last year. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

_Trevor James Lock, police officer, born April 14, 1939; died March 30, 2025._