Profiling failure

THE role of criminal profiler Paul Britton was criticised after the wrong man was arrested and convicted of the murder of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common in 1992.

During Colin Stagg's time in prison, Ms Nickell's real murderer, Robert Napper, right, went on to kill another young mother and was finally convicted 16 years later.

Mr Justice Ognell criticised the investigation, saying: "This operation was sustained in constant consultation with the psychologist, the policewoman was acting under orders and the police in their turn were being guided by the psychologist."

However, criminal profiling techniques have changed dramatically in the 18 years since Ms Nickell's murder and the National Policing Improvement Agency came into being only in 2007.