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| Met Police murder detectives 'face wall of silence' | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Murder detectives in London say the "heartbreak" of unsolved cases is being made worse by a "wall of silence". | |
| The Met has solved nearly 90% of homicide cases in the past decade but Det Ch Insp Noel McHugh says fears about "snitching" are a challenge. | |
| He said those who share information with police "are not a grass, they are a public champion." | |
| The aunt of Bjorn Brown, whose death is unsolved, said the wait for justice had prolonged her pain. | |
| Commissioner Cressida Dick has previously said detectives were operating in a "very challenging" environment and were met with a "wall of silence" in some cases. | Commissioner Cressida Dick has previously said detectives were operating in a "very challenging" environment and were met with a "wall of silence" in some cases. |
| The Met classes homicides as "detected" when a suspect is charged or following an inquest into the death of a suspect who would have been charged. | The Met classes homicides as "detected" when a suspect is charged or following an inquest into the death of a suspect who would have been charged. |
| Det Ch Insp McHugh said there were a higher number of unsolved homicides in 2018 and 2017 than other recent years because "crimes don't necessarily get detected in the year they happen". | |
| He said other challenges facing the homicide teams included extracting data from multiple mobile phones. | |
| "Every mobile phone is effectively a computer. There is a massive amount of work for investigators to work through," Mr McHugh said. | "Every mobile phone is effectively a computer. There is a massive amount of work for investigators to work through," Mr McHugh said. |
| "It might take two or three days to totally understand what a device was doing on that particular day. | "It might take two or three days to totally understand what a device was doing on that particular day. |
| "Recently, we had an investigation where we recovered 50 phones - it is enormous." | "Recently, we had an investigation where we recovered 50 phones - it is enormous." |
| Det Ch Insp McHugh said he was keen to "dismantle the snitching culture". | |
| "It is absolutely heartbreaking for the officers and the families, especially when there are people out there in the know, holding back information and hiding behind a wall of silence," he said. | "It is absolutely heartbreaking for the officers and the families, especially when there are people out there in the know, holding back information and hiding behind a wall of silence," he said. |
| "They are not a snitch, they are not a grass, they are a public champion." | "They are not a snitch, they are not a grass, they are a public champion." |
| The Met said it had a "robust and comprehensive" review process for all homicide investigations. | The Met said it had a "robust and comprehensive" review process for all homicide investigations. |
| If a case was unsolved after 28 days, a homicide investigation would be independently reviewed by specialist officers from the Met's Serious Crime Review Group. | If a case was unsolved after 28 days, a homicide investigation would be independently reviewed by specialist officers from the Met's Serious Crime Review Group. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Danny Shaw, BBC Home Affairs correspondent | By Danny Shaw, BBC Home Affairs correspondent |
| The clear-up rate for cases of murder and manslaughter has always been high - around 90% or above, with dedicated teams and substantial police resources rightly devoted to investigations. | The clear-up rate for cases of murder and manslaughter has always been high - around 90% or above, with dedicated teams and substantial police resources rightly devoted to investigations. |
| But the figures for the Met make worrying reading. Between 2008 and 2015 detections remained stable, with only 5 to 10 % of cases unsolved. Since then, however, the proportion of un-detected killings has risen from 13% in 2016 to 26% in 2017 and 2018. | But the figures for the Met make worrying reading. Between 2008 and 2015 detections remained stable, with only 5 to 10 % of cases unsolved. Since then, however, the proportion of un-detected killings has risen from 13% in 2016 to 26% in 2017 and 2018. |
| Although some cases will be classed as "detected" in the months to come as investigations develop and inquests conclude, the increase does suggest that murder is becoming harder to solve. | Although some cases will be classed as "detected" in the months to come as investigations develop and inquests conclude, the increase does suggest that murder is becoming harder to solve. |
| As Noel McHugh suggests, it may be partly due to the volume of digital material now available and the reluctance of witnesses to come forward, particularly in street-based or gang-related crimes. | As Noel McHugh suggests, it may be partly due to the volume of digital material now available and the reluctance of witnesses to come forward, particularly in street-based or gang-related crimes. |
| But a shortage of detectives and forensic science provision, highlighted in numerous reports by inspectors and parliamentary committees, together with increased demands on police more generally, are also likely to be factors. | But a shortage of detectives and forensic science provision, highlighted in numerous reports by inspectors and parliamentary committees, together with increased demands on police more generally, are also likely to be factors. |
| Det Ch Supt Richard Wood explained unsolved murder cases were never closed and more recent cases were likely to be currently classed as "undetected" because of the normal length of a homicide investigation. | Det Ch Supt Richard Wood explained unsolved murder cases were never closed and more recent cases were likely to be currently classed as "undetected" because of the normal length of a homicide investigation. |
| He said: "We prioritise resources to investigate homicides and work closely with the CPS to bring offenders to justice and support families at the most difficult of times." | He said: "We prioritise resources to investigate homicides and work closely with the CPS to bring offenders to justice and support families at the most difficult of times." |
| Cases "put on hold" are reviewed every two years by an independent panel - chaired by a Commander - that aims to source any new information. | |
| One of the cases unsolved is that of Bjorn Brown, who was stabbed to death in Croydon in March 2017. | One of the cases unsolved is that of Bjorn Brown, who was stabbed to death in Croydon in March 2017. |
| Despite repeated CCTV appeals and a £20,000 reward for information - nobody has been charged with the 23-year-old's murder. | Despite repeated CCTV appeals and a £20,000 reward for information - nobody has been charged with the 23-year-old's murder. |
| His aunt Sandi Bogle - who featured in Channel 4's Gogglebox - said the so-called "wall of silence" had prolonged the pain of her family's loss and search for answers. | |
| "It is sad that it has come to the point where money has to be offered for information," she said. "It really makes you think people don't care about human life. | "It is sad that it has come to the point where money has to be offered for information," she said. "It really makes you think people don't care about human life. |
| "Someone out there knows what has happened and I can't blame the police when there are friends and family who hide behind this wall of silence. | "Someone out there knows what has happened and I can't blame the police when there are friends and family who hide behind this wall of silence. |
| "It is painful, every event like birthdays, Christmas or Easter which go by, it just gets harder knowing Bjorn isn't there. | "It is painful, every event like birthdays, Christmas or Easter which go by, it just gets harder knowing Bjorn isn't there. |
| "It's never going to be too late to make that phone call and share whatever information you know so our family can get justice." | "It's never going to be too late to make that phone call and share whatever information you know so our family can get justice." |
| Det Ch Supt Wood expressed his sympathy to families such as Mr Brown's - but said cold cases often became "lengthy and complicated". | Det Ch Supt Wood expressed his sympathy to families such as Mr Brown's - but said cold cases often became "lengthy and complicated". |
| He added: "There is a huge amount of work taking place on unsolved murders. | He added: "There is a huge amount of work taking place on unsolved murders. |
| "There are between 15 and 20 cases subject to a full cold case review at any one time. | "There are between 15 and 20 cases subject to a full cold case review at any one time. |
| "Behind every unsolved murder there is a family looking for answers. | "Behind every unsolved murder there is a family looking for answers. |
| "In some cases, they do take years to come to conclusion." | "In some cases, they do take years to come to conclusion." |
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