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| Force 'failures' in Whitear death | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A police force has been blamed for "organisation failure" over its investigation into the death of student Rachel Whitear from a heroin overdose. | A police force has been blamed for "organisation failure" over its investigation into the death of student Rachel Whitear from a heroin overdose. |
| An Independent Police Complaints Commission report criticised Devon and Cornwall police's handling of the case. | An Independent Police Complaints Commission report criticised Devon and Cornwall police's handling of the case. |
| This included lax procedures once her body was discovered in an Exmouth bedsit and the decision not to carry out a post-mortem examination. | This included lax procedures once her body was discovered in an Exmouth bedsit and the decision not to carry out a post-mortem examination. |
| Rachel Whitear, 21, from Herefordshire, died of a heroin overdose in 2000. | |
| The investigation by Wiltshire Police into the Devon and Cornwall force's handling of Rachel's death found that potential lines of inquiry were not pursued. | |
| One involved a missing tobacco tin which potentially indicated someone might have entered Rachel's house before her death. | |
| The other was a change of account by her boyfriend, Luke Fitzgerald, about his last contact with her prior to her death. | |
| Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett of Wiltshire police said: "It has been assessed, however, that neither of these omissions amount to a breach of the Police Code of Conduct by individual officers, but do indicate a general organisational failure within Devon and Cornwall Police. | |
| We will never know whether Rachel was alone when she died Pauline and Mick Holcroft, Rachel's parents | |
| Rachel's story hit the headlines when her parents, Pauline and Mick Holcroft from Herefordshire, gave permission for a photo of her dead body holding a syringe to be used in an anti drugs campaign. | |
| They have spent years campaigning for the circumstances surrounding her death to be more fully investigated. | |
| Speaking after the report was published on Thursday they described the original investigation as a "miserable failure", particularly the decision not carry out a post-mortem examination. | |
| "The pathologist stated he did not take a post mortem because of Rachel's potential HIV status. | |
| "Why was this allowed to be an excuse not to carry out this vital examination that could have confirmed to us how Rachel died and if foul play was involved?" | |
| Asst Chief Cons Paul Netherton from Devon and Cornwall police said: "We are sorry that Rachel's parents have had to suffer the anguish of a protracted investigation that must have been harrowing. | |
| Second inquest | |
| "We are also sorry that the absence of a post-mortem means that they are left with unanswered questions which can never now be resolved." | |
| It was Rachel's parents' quest for answers which led the investigation into Rachel's death being re-opened and a second inquest in 2007 which concluded she had died from a heroin overdose. | |
| The inquest could not give a ruling on whether Rachel gave herself the fatal injection. | |
| Rachel's parents said: "We will never know who administered that final dose and whether Rachel was alone when she died." |