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.
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