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| When the murder trail goes cold | When the murder trail goes cold |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| There are more than 1,000 unsolved murders in the UK, according to figures obtained by the BBC, some going back several generations. But what happens when the trail goes cold on a homicide? | There are more than 1,000 unsolved murders in the UK, according to figures obtained by the BBC, some going back several generations. But what happens when the trail goes cold on a homicide? |
| Few people will ever have heard about the deaths of David Ombler and Janet Henderson - Britain's two oldest unsolved murders. | Few people will ever have heard about the deaths of David Ombler and Janet Henderson - Britain's two oldest unsolved murders. |
| Torso: Case of Adam remains an active investigation | Torso: Case of Adam remains an active investigation |
| Mr Ombler, a market trader from Hull, was found battered to death on his kitchen floor on 30 May 1914, the victim of a vicious attack involving a fire poker and pair of tongs. | Mr Ombler, a market trader from Hull, was found battered to death on his kitchen floor on 30 May 1914, the victim of a vicious attack involving a fire poker and pair of tongs. |
| As for Janet Henderson, of Perthshire, Tayside Police have never discovered who was responsible for her untimely death in Forgandenny almost 150 years ago. | As for Janet Henderson, of Perthshire, Tayside Police have never discovered who was responsible for her untimely death in Forgandenny almost 150 years ago. |
| Detectives never close the files of unsolved homicides. They simply keep hoping that one day they will find the killer. | Detectives never close the files of unsolved homicides. They simply keep hoping that one day they will find the killer. |
| Research by the BBC's Freedom of Information team, has revealed that there are officially 1,143 unsolved killings on police records in the UK. | Research by the BBC's Freedom of Information team, has revealed that there are officially 1,143 unsolved killings on police records in the UK. |
| Six of the 50 forces that provided information said they did not have any unsolved killings, which were more than a year old. Only two forces - the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Gwent police - failed to provide any figures. | Six of the 50 forces that provided information said they did not have any unsolved killings, which were more than a year old. Only two forces - the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Gwent police - failed to provide any figures. |
| MOST UNSOLVED MURDERS Metropolitan Police: 341 (since 1996 only)West Midlands: 78Greater Manchester: 54 (last decade only)Strathclyde: 53West Yorkshire/Kent: 52 | MOST UNSOLVED MURDERS Metropolitan Police: 341 (since 1996 only)West Midlands: 78Greater Manchester: 54 (last decade only)Strathclyde: 53West Yorkshire/Kent: 52 |
| London's Metropolitan Police had the largest number, at 341. But its response to the BBC's request only goes back as far as 1996 - three years after the still open inquiry into the killing of teenager Stephen Lawrence. | London's Metropolitan Police had the largest number, at 341. But its response to the BBC's request only goes back as far as 1996 - three years after the still open inquiry into the killing of teenager Stephen Lawrence. |
| So what does 1,143 unsolved killings mean? | So what does 1,143 unsolved killings mean? |
| According to the latest figures, there were 651 homicides (murder, manslaughter and infanticide) in England and Wales in the year to November 2009. That may sound a lot - but it is far lower than the murder rate in the US. | According to the latest figures, there were 651 homicides (murder, manslaughter and infanticide) in England and Wales in the year to November 2009. That may sound a lot - but it is far lower than the murder rate in the US. |
| Between 2008 and 2009, 92% of these deaths were "detected" in England and Wales - meaning someone was either convicted or charged and later cleared. | Between 2008 and 2009, 92% of these deaths were "detected" in England and Wales - meaning someone was either convicted or charged and later cleared. |
| Shocking murder: The Dundee Advertiser's report of Janet Henderson's death | Shocking murder: The Dundee Advertiser's report of Janet Henderson's death |
| Detection rates are higher only for crimes where someone has to be caught in the act, such as possession of drugs and soliciting. | |
| So why is the homicide detection rate so high? | So why is the homicide detection rate so high? |
| While the death of Janet Henderson in 1866 remains unsolved, the Dundee Advertiser's graphic report of the killing at the time (see internet links) shines a light on what confronts police at a murder scene... and how they go about trying to solve it. | While the death of Janet Henderson in 1866 remains unsolved, the Dundee Advertiser's graphic report of the killing at the time (see internet links) shines a light on what confronts police at a murder scene... and how they go about trying to solve it. |
| The Advertiser reports a pretty gruesome tale of the 50-year-old's bludgeoned remains being found on the kitchen floor. It sets out in grim detail the position of her body, where traces of her blood were found and remarks that the house "had a confused and disordered appearance, as if it has been ransacked for plunder." | The Advertiser reports a pretty gruesome tale of the 50-year-old's bludgeoned remains being found on the kitchen floor. It sets out in grim detail the position of her body, where traces of her blood were found and remarks that the house "had a confused and disordered appearance, as if it has been ransacked for plunder." |
| This description is more than a reporter getting carried away. For a detective, it's the foundations of what's known as the victimology - the picture that a murder squad builds of the relationship between the deceased, the location and the suspects who come into view. | This description is more than a reporter getting carried away. For a detective, it's the foundations of what's known as the victimology - the picture that a murder squad builds of the relationship between the deceased, the location and the suspects who come into view. |
| Will O'Reilly recently retired from the Metropolitan Police after a career as one of the capital's leading murder squad detectives. | Will O'Reilly recently retired from the Metropolitan Police after a career as one of the capital's leading murder squad detectives. |
| He was the senior investigating officer leading the hunt for the killer of a five-year-old African boy whom detectives called Adam - the boy whose torso was recovered from the Thames in 2001. | He was the senior investigating officer leading the hunt for the killer of a five-year-old African boy whom detectives called Adam - the boy whose torso was recovered from the Thames in 2001. |
| The former detective chief inspector says investigators begin with the assumption that there is no such as thing as a stranger murder. | The former detective chief inspector says investigators begin with the assumption that there is no such as thing as a stranger murder. |
| "In most murders, the assailant is known to the victim," he says "That's the starting point in the victimology - what puts them there at that time. And when you can answer that, you have a clue." | "In most murders, the assailant is known to the victim," he says "That's the starting point in the victimology - what puts them there at that time. And when you can answer that, you have a clue." |
| 'Golden hour' | 'Golden hour' |
| "Time is of the essence at the beginning or any investigation," he says. "We talk about a golden hour where there is an opportunity to make progress - but that can often be pushed further to the first 24 hours and then the first 48. But once you give up the crime scene, you start to lose things." | "Time is of the essence at the beginning or any investigation," he says. "We talk about a golden hour where there is an opportunity to make progress - but that can often be pushed further to the first 24 hours and then the first 48. But once you give up the crime scene, you start to lose things." |
| If you look at criminal gangs, loyalties change - sometimes someone comes forward. They want to do a deal because they are no longer part of the group and have interests elsewhere Will O'Reilly | If you look at criminal gangs, loyalties change - sometimes someone comes forward. They want to do a deal because they are no longer part of the group and have interests elsewhere Will O'Reilly |
| It's these two factors - the victimology and piecing together the final minutes, hours and days that are behind the modern murder investigation. | It's these two factors - the victimology and piecing together the final minutes, hours and days that are behind the modern murder investigation. |
| Modern murder investigations, particularly in large forces, are a world away from the TV stereotype of two buddy officers rocking up to the crime scene. | Modern murder investigations, particularly in large forces, are a world away from the TV stereotype of two buddy officers rocking up to the crime scene. |
| The tactic, heavily influenced by the lessons of the Stephen Lawrence fiasco, is to flood a crime scene with officers to maximize the chance of uncovering vital early clues. | The tactic, heavily influenced by the lessons of the Stephen Lawrence fiasco, is to flood a crime scene with officers to maximize the chance of uncovering vital early clues. |
| Mr O'Reilly says his inquiries would typically start with more than 30 officers tasked to cover all angles. Some would be assisting the family. Others would be involved with the forensics at the scene of the crime. Constables would be conducting house-to-house inquiries while detectives speak to significant witnesses. | Mr O'Reilly says his inquiries would typically start with more than 30 officers tasked to cover all angles. Some would be assisting the family. Others would be involved with the forensics at the scene of the crime. Constables would be conducting house-to-house inquiries while detectives speak to significant witnesses. |
| Detectives log their decisions - and if there is no break-through after 28 days, a review team provides a fresh pair of eyes. | Detectives log their decisions - and if there is no break-through after 28 days, a review team provides a fresh pair of eyes. |
| "Every decision is recorded and open to review," says Mr O'Reilly. | "Every decision is recorded and open to review," says Mr O'Reilly. |
| "A good officer will embrace the process because it's about help and advice." | "A good officer will embrace the process because it's about help and advice." |
| Cold case reviews | Cold case reviews |
| When the trail has genuinely gone cold, a force's most senior officers will be brought in to decide whether it's time to put the inquiry in a box. This usually happens more than a year into a case. | When the trail has genuinely gone cold, a force's most senior officers will be brought in to decide whether it's time to put the inquiry in a box. This usually happens more than a year into a case. |
| Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce: Cold case review launched by Kent Police | Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce: Cold case review launched by Kent Police |
| But if they take that decision, the lid is not shut for long. The current policy is to review the paperwork on a two-yearly basis. | But if they take that decision, the lid is not shut for long. The current policy is to review the paperwork on a two-yearly basis. |
| This 24-month gap allows time for scientific developments to play a greater role, such as recovery of DNA. | This 24-month gap allows time for scientific developments to play a greater role, such as recovery of DNA. |
| There are approximately 50 cases nationwide receiving special "cold case" funding because detectives have a good chance of using science to bring a killer to justice. In the cases of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce, killed in the late 1980s, Kent Police believe they have their murderer's DNA profile. But sometimes time allows bitterness and rivalries in the criminal world to play a part. | There are approximately 50 cases nationwide receiving special "cold case" funding because detectives have a good chance of using science to bring a killer to justice. In the cases of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce, killed in the late 1980s, Kent Police believe they have their murderer's DNA profile. But sometimes time allows bitterness and rivalries in the criminal world to play a part. |
| "If you look at criminal gangs, loyalties change," says Mr O'Reilly. "Sometimes someone comes forward. They want to do a deal because they are no longer part of the group and have interests elsewhere. | "If you look at criminal gangs, loyalties change," says Mr O'Reilly. "Sometimes someone comes forward. They want to do a deal because they are no longer part of the group and have interests elsewhere. |
| "Let's say that there is a particular guy who has done the murder, and we think we know who he is. He's going to be very weary at first, particularly of undercover officers. | "Let's say that there is a particular guy who has done the murder, and we think we know who he is. He's going to be very weary at first, particularly of undercover officers. |
| "But some time later, when he thinks he is not going to be caught, he may drop his guard." | "But some time later, when he thinks he is not going to be caught, he may drop his guard." |
| For many of the 1,143 deaths in list provided to the BBC, it is almost certainly too late to get to the bottom of what happened. | For many of the 1,143 deaths in list provided to the BBC, it is almost certainly too late to get to the bottom of what happened. |
| But Mr O'Reilly says that even the most difficult cases like that of the Thames torso Adam can be solved. It's just a case of painstaking effort, patience - and perhaps a little luck when it's most needed. | But Mr O'Reilly says that even the most difficult cases like that of the Thames torso Adam can be solved. It's just a case of painstaking effort, patience - and perhaps a little luck when it's most needed. |
| "I was very disappointed that I could not get the Adam inquiry finished before I left," he says. "I hung on for two years longer partly because of that case. But it's still moving on and I'm hopeful that it will be solved." | "I was very disappointed that I could not get the Adam inquiry finished before I left," he says. "I hung on for two years longer partly because of that case. But it's still moving on and I'm hopeful that it will be solved." |
| Freedom of Information research by the BBC's Julia Ross. | Freedom of Information research by the BBC's Julia Ross. |