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Met police and CPS apologise to man after collapse of rape case Met and CPS apologise to man after disclosure errors in rape case
(about 1 hour later)
Review found mistakes made in disclosure of evidence relating to case against Liam Allan, 22 Case against Liam Allan, 22, collapsed over police’s failure to give phone records to defence
Owen BowcottOwen Bowcott
Tue 30 Jan 2018 11.02 GMTTue 30 Jan 2018 11.02 GMT
Last modified on Tue 30 Jan 2018 11.30 GMT Last modified on Tue 30 Jan 2018 12.36 GMT
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Police and prosecutors have apologised to a 22-year-old man after a review found a catalogue of failings in the disclosure of evidence relating to a collapsed rape case against him. Police and prosecutors have apologised to a 22-year-old man after a review found a catalogue of failings in the disclosure of evidence relating to a rape case against him which subsequently collapsed.
Liam Allan, from Beckenham, south-east London, was charged with 12 counts of rape and sexual assault but his trial collapsed after police were ordered to hand over phone records that should have already been provided to the defence.Liam Allan, from Beckenham, south-east London, was charged with 12 counts of rape and sexual assault but his trial collapsed after police were ordered to hand over phone records that should have already been provided to the defence.
The student, who was studying psychology at the University of Greenwich, was on bail for almost two years and spent three days in the dock at Croydon crown court before the case against him fell apart.The student, who was studying psychology at the University of Greenwich, was on bail for almost two years and spent three days in the dock at Croydon crown court before the case against him fell apart.
Metropolitan police officers eventually handed over messages between the complainant and her friends that cast doubt on her allegations against Allan. In one message, she was reported to have told another woman: ‘It wasn’t against my will or anything’. Metropolitan police officers eventually handed over messages between the complainant and her friends that cast doubt on the allegations against Allan. In one message, she was reported to have told another woman: “It wasn’t against my will or anything.”
The review by the Met and the Crown Prosecution Service said there was no evidence that information was withheld deliberately. However, it blamed the disclosure issues on “a combination of error, lack of challenge, and lack of knowledge”.The review by the Met and the Crown Prosecution Service said there was no evidence that information was withheld deliberately. However, it blamed the disclosure issues on “a combination of error, lack of challenge, and lack of knowledge”.
Giving details of the review to reporters, Commander Richard Smith of the Metropolitan police said that he and the chief crown prosecutor for London south, Claire Lindley, had met with Allan on Monday. Giving details of the review to reporters, Commander Richard Smith said he and the chief crown prosecutor for London south, Claire Lindley, had met with Allan on Monday and had both apologised.
“Claire and I met with Mr Allan yesterday afternoon where he received a personal apology from us both,” he said. “I was really pleased to have that opportunity to meet with him face-to-face, allow him to read the report and apologise for the errors that were made.” “I was really pleased to have that opportunity to meet with him face-to-face, allow him to read the report and apologise for the errors that were made,” Smith said.
The police commander said the review had revealed no indication of misconduct by officers and there would be no disciplinary action. Smith said the review had revealed no indication of misconduct by officers and there would be no disciplinary action.
The officer who had failed to spot the evidence exonerating Allan has requested to be moved to other duties but Commander Smith said he still had confidence in him. The officer who had failed to spot the evidence exonerating Allan had requested to be moved to other duties, but Smith said he still had confidence in him.
Thousands of rape prosecutions across England and Wales are being re-examined in the aftermath of recent revelations of errors in disclosure to check whether they have been affected by similar mistakes. Thousands of rape prosecutions across England and Wales are being re-examined to check whether they have been affected by disclosure errors similar to those which led to the recent collapse of a number cases.
In London alone, 600 rape cases are being re-assessed by prosecutors and detectives. In London alone, 600 rape cases are being reassessed by prosecutors and detectives.
Both Smith and Lindley denied that lack of resources had been the main problem in the case of Liam Allan but acknowledged that their staff were facing heavy workloads dealing with sexual offences. Both Smith and Lindley denied that lack of resources had been the main problem in the Allan case but acknowledged that their staff were facing heavy workloads dealing with sexual offences.
It was the first of a series of rape prosecutions which were halted over the Christmas and the new year period because of failures to disclose crucial evidence.It was the first of a series of rape prosecutions which were halted over the Christmas and the new year period because of failures to disclose crucial evidence.
The joint police/CPS review of the Allan prosecution revealed that there were more than 57,000 lines of message data on the complainant’s mobile phone. The joint police-CPS review of the Allan prosecution revealed that there were more than 57,000 lines of message data on the complainant’s mobile phone.
It noted that because of the massive volumes of material generated by digital technology, officers are allowed to search using key words or other search tools. In the Allan case, the investigating officer had not, however, recorded the method employed as he was supposed to do. The review noted that because of the massive volumes of material generated by digital technology, officers were allowed to search using key words or other search tools. In the Allan case, the investigating officer had not, however, recorded the method employed as he was supposed to do.
The internal report recommends improved training for police officers and the appointment of ”disclosure champions” in the CPS. The internal report recommends improved training for police officers and the appointment of “disclosure champions” in the CPS.
Metropolitan policeMetropolitan police
Crown Prosecution ServiceCrown Prosecution Service
LondonLondon
PolicePolice
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