Soham father defends embattled police chief

Published on Monday 28 June 2004 02:32

DAVID Blunkett, the Home Secretary, has again defended his decision to order the suspension of the embattled Humberside police chief, David Westwood, in the face of fresh opposition - this time by the father of Holly Wells.

Kevin Wells, whose daughter was killed with Jessica Chapman by Ian Huntley after police intelligence identifying him as a serial sex attacker was destroyed, said it would be a "travesty" if Mr Westwood lost his job.

Mr Blunkett has resorted to legal action to resolve his bitter stand-off with the Humberside police authority, which has steadfastly refused to suspend the chief constable personally savaged by the Bichard inquiry into the Soham case.

They have said they would suspend Mr Westwood only if the Home Secretary was granted an injunction, and then it may be temporary.

The deepening row continued yesterday as a Labour peer and former president of the Police Superintendents’ Association said it would be wrong to place the blame for intelligence failings solely on Mr Westwood.

Home Office lawyers will discuss the case this morning. They are expected to ask the High Court in London for an injunction forcing the authority to comply with Mr Blunkett’s instructions - the first test of new powers under the Police Reform Act 2002.

Sir Michael Bichard found last Tuesday that a "deeply shocking" catalogue of errors by all organisations involved with Huntley - including the Home Office - led to the failure to identify him as a threat to children, levelling his worst criticism at Mr Westwood.

But Mr Wells told the Mail on Sunday: "The inquiry into the murders has become a major political issue, and we have found that shocking.

"We have always understood Mr Westwood to have our best interests at heart and to be willing to take the blame for troubles which pre-dated his promotion. If that brought an end to his career it would be a travesty."

Mr Blunkett yesterday responded: "I took the decision to suspend Chief Constable Westwood knowing full well that it would not be welcomed by Mr and Mrs Wells."

He revealed that in a private meeting several months ago, Mr Wells told him that he believed Mr Westwood a decent man who, together with the other police chief criticised by the inquiry, Cambridgeshire Chief Constable Tom Lloyd, had shown both families considerable kindness.

But the Home Secretary reiterated his intention to require Mr Westwood’s suspension, which he said was driven by Sir Michael’s findings that Humberside Police had "systemic and corporate failings".

But the Labour peer and former senior policeman, Lord Mackenzie, suggested the Home Office was as much to blame as Mr Westwood.

A former adviser to Tony Blair on policing matters, he told BBC Radio 4’s World This Weekend: "I don’t think that taking one head resolves the problem."

Lord Mackenzie said police forces had been asking the Home Office for some time to introduce a mechanism for intelligence to be shared nationwide. "Some would blame the Home Office and say they haven't set up what the police service has been demanding for quite some time."

Mr Blunkett has said an interim national intelligence system would be in place by spring next year, ahead of a full introduction in 2007.