HMIC REPORT INTO SOHAM POLICE INVESTIGATION

22 Jun 2004 02:15 PM

A summary of the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary into the Soham murder inquiry found a 'lack of grip' at the start of the investigation into the disappearance of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells, but the shortcomings did not undermine the final outcome of the case.

In the report, published today by Her Majesty's Inspector Sir Ronnie Flanagan, he said that whilst the initial response by uniform officers was to a high standard, momentum was lost over the following 48 hours and that during the early stages of the enquiry into the disappearance of the two girls, there was a lack of focus and of co-ordination.

He went on to commend the overall determination and commitment of officers, police staff and special constables, which led to the arrest of Maxine Carr and Ian Huntley thirteen days into one of the largest murder investigations recently mounted by an English police force.

Sir Ronnie concluded that while the lack of purpose and co-ordination at a strategic command level led to an initial response that fell well below the expectations of the victims' families, there was no evidence of inherent weakness on the part of Cambridgeshire police in investigating major incidents of this kind.

Sir Ronnie said:

"I am firmly of the opinion that while errors were made in connection with events surrounding the Soham investigation, there was also a considerable amount of excellent policing delivered by the officers, police staff and special constables of Cambridgeshire. Much of this represents good policing practice, which should be disseminated nationally.

"The chief constable of Cambridgeshire constabulary readily accepts that his continued absence on leave during the early part of the investigation was an error, but it is also important to note that his absence did not lead to any loss of evidence or impair the investigation.

"A critical incident of this nature would present a challenge to any police force and it is in this knowledge that chief officers are expected to develop the capability of their force to put systems and staff in place capable of meeting such challenges. It is regrettable that in Cambridgeshire some of these challenges became more substantial than they might have been had the initial response been immediately sustained and better co-ordinated at a strategic command level.

"These criticisms must be put into context - the investigation led to the arrest of Maxine Carr and Ian Huntley within 13 days and a successful prosecution.

"The force has implemented 97% of the recommendations made in an earlier review of the case by the Metropolitan police with the final one being progressed. They have also learnt a number of lessons from this investigation. It was clear to me when carrying out this review that there is a real commitment to continue to improve the quality of service provided to the people of Cambridgeshire."

The report made the following recommendations, which will be implemented in close liaison with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Centre for Policing Excellence (NCPE) and subject to on-going monitoring by HMIC:

* ACPO agrees a definition and clear framework to facilitate the management of critical incidents and provide suitable training at a national level;
* ACPO (homicide working group) identifies options for applying the gold, silver and bronze command structure and disseminates clear guidance;
* ACPO and NCPE consider how mutual aid arrangements for major investigations can be enhanced;
* NCPE reviews existing arrangements for providing a single point of contact for specialist advice in connection with critical incidents; * Chief officers should formally consider demands on the senior investigations officer when dealing with a critical incident and consider who is best placed to meet those demands so that appropriate appointments are made. The decision and related considerations should be formally recorded;
* To ensure continued improvement, the regional HMI will look specifically at the actions undertaken to implement the Metropolitan police review in relation to changing the organisational structures and procedures. This will be considered during scheduled inspection activity;
* ACPO (homicide working group) works jointly with NCPE to take forward the national recommendations and good practice emerging from the Metropolitan police review and the Operation Fincham debrief by the NCPE;
* NCPE considers and implements the best way the good practice developed during the preparation of the prosecution case can be made available to the police service; and
* HMIC undertakes a thematic inspection into critical incident (homicide) handling in 2005.

Notes to Editors:

1. A summary of the HMIC report on the investigation by
Cambridgeshire constabulary into the murder of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells at Soham on 4 August 2002 was published today. The report, written by HMI Sir Ronnie Flanagan, is available at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic

2. HMIC has made substantial use of a range of material much of which is of a sensitive operational nature. For that reason, certain sections of the report to the Home Secretary are not appropriate for publication.

3. The report was commissioned by the Home Secretary David Blunkett on 17 December 2003, following the successful conviction of Huntley and Carr.

4. The terms of reference for the report were as follows:

* To consider the recommendations made and the areas of good practice highlighted in the Metropolitan police review of the Cambridgeshire constabulary investigation into the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells in order to identify all issues of both local and national relevance to future similar police investigations; * To consider the conduct of the investigation after the period covered by the Metropolitan police review to ensure that all further issues of local and national relevance to police investigations are similarly identified;
* To establish the extent to which Cambridgeshire constabulary has implemented appropriate recommendations contained in the review and to ensure that an action plan is put in place with monitoring mechanisms, time scales and identified accountable officers to implement any outstanding recommendations appropriate to such investigations; and
* As appropriate and having regard to the inquiry by Sir Michael Bichard, to make recommendations with both force level and national level relevance as to how such investigations might more effectively be undertaken in future.

5. Cambridgeshire constabulary themselves commissioned an internal review into the Soham investigation within seven days of the incident being reported. An external review by the Metropolitan police, which reported in October 2003, was commissioned within 13 days. It made 41 recommendations, 97 per cent of which have now been implemented by the force. There is only one outstanding recommendation in relation to joint critical incident training to be arranged with two other forces. This is ongoing and subject to HMIC review.

6. A steering group including representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Centre for Policing Excellence was set up at the beginning of the HMIC review to co-ordinate emerging findings with current work being carried out nationally.

7. The Home Office Police Standards Unit and HMIC have been providing support to a number of forces to help raise performance, which includes Cambridgeshire Constabulary. In the latter, recent figures indicate that all crime is down eight per cent, burglary has fallen 23 per cent, vehicle crime has fallen 25 per cent and robbery is down 15 per cent.

8. HMIC will formally review Cambridgeshire constabulary's improvement in relation to investigating homicides within the next 12 months.