Huntley inquiry begins

The public inquiry into the way Humberside and Cambridgeshire
police forces handled information about Ian Huntley has begun in
London, writes Sally Gillen. 

The inquiry team began collecting documents and written
submissions connected to the case and at a preliminary hearing
chairperson Michael Bichard promised to “discover what
happened, secondly why it happened and thirdly what lessons could
be learned”.

Bichard, who is vice-chancellor of the London Institute and has
20 years’ experience of local government that included stints
as chief executive at Brent and Gloucestershire councils, said the
public hearings would begin at the end of next month.

They are likely to last three weeks and Bichard added that he
would be making recommendations to home secretary David Blunkett
that were likely to have implications for police forces in England
and Wales as well as other agencies.

Blunkett ordered the inquiry following the conviction of Huntley
in December for the murder of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.