Remains of Shipman's victims destroyed without telling relatives
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Version 0 of 1. The police watchdog has begun an investigation after Greater Manchester police admitted keeping the remains of Harold Shipman's victims for 12 years and then destroying them without telling bereaved relatives. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said on Monday that it was investigating whether senior officers misled the families of 12 of the serial killer's victims over the storage of organs. Shipman was convicted of 15 murders in 2000, but is thought to have killed many more. He hanged himself in prison in 2004. Bereaved relatives were finally told last November that the force had kept the organs for 12 years in case Shipman mounted a challenge against his murder convictions. The remains were taken to an incinerator and burned in February 2011 without the families' knowledge. The investigation is one of three begun involving Greater Manchester police (GMP) after a string of allegations made by a serving whistleblower. In a second investigation, the IPCC is examining whether a detective chief inspector bugged a Greater Manchester police office without authorisation. The third investigation concerns allegations that officers mishandled a sexual abuse inquiry and covered up alleged failings. A spokesman for the police watchdog said it was scrutinising the actions of several officers, from the rank of constable up to the assistant chief constable, Terry Sweeney. Sweeney had been seconded to the Operation Resolve police inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster but has returned to GMP, the IPCC spokesman said. IPCC commissioner Jan Williams said: "These are serious allegations and the gravity and nature of the allegations, and the fact that they are made against senior officers within the force, means they must be investigated independently. We will also look at the wider organisational response by Greater Manchester police in each of these investigations. "We know that the families involved will have been through very distressing times and we will be sensitive to this as we conduct our investigations. "We have a statutory duty to conduct independent investigations in circumstances such as these, but we will make sure that we communicate with the families and do whatever we can to avoid further distress." The whistleblower, described by the IPCC as a serving officer, made a number of other allegations including cronyism among senior officers, corruption, failure to follow correct procedures and failure to investigate complaints properly. Greater Manchester police referred all inquiries to the IPCC but said in a statement that it would co-operate with the investigations. Chief constable Peter Fahy said: "I support the need for difficult issues we face to be subjected to scrutiny and for there to be a transparent process for this. We have been working nationally with the College of Policing to develop ethics committees that will consider sensitive issues of policy. Locally we see great benefit in the creation of an ombudsman to provide a clearer route for people who wish to raise issues of concern. "These are serious allegations but this investigation will not distract us from the hard work of officers and staff every day who are keeping the public safe and tackling criminals." Fahy, who has led the Manchester force since September 2008, said decisions taken in the Shipman investigation were "complex and sensitive". "Our priority was to avoid causing further distress to the families," he said. Assistant commissioner Jon Stoddart, who is leading Operation Resolve, said: "I am aware of the ongoing investigations being carried out by the IPCC in relation to Greater Manchester police and specific officers, including assistant chief constable Terry Sweeney. The allegations made relate to ACC Sweeney's role at Greater Manchester police. "ACC Sweeney has returned to his post at Greater Manchester police and will cooperate fully with the IPCC investigation until these matters are concluded. "I have taken steps to inform the Hillsborough families and other interested parties of recent developments. "I and my team remain absolutely committed to supporting the forthcoming inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool supporters at Hillsborough stadium on 15 April 1989." |