Public Inquiry in the Soham Murders Case Essay

Introduction

This presentation was designed to explore and evaluate the public inquiry related to the case of the Soham murders. The objectives of the presentation include describing the events of the Soham murders, outlining the public inquiry’s details, evaluating the public inquiry process, and outlining the outcomes of the inquiry. The overall purpose of the presentation is to use the example of the Soham murders case to validate the importance of public inquiry in the justice system of the United Kingdom. The presentation starts with a description of the events of the Soham murders case with the following overview of the Bichard inquiry information. After that, the inquiry process will be evaluated and its strengths and weaknesses identified. Ultimately, the outcomes achieved in the aftermath of the inquiry will be presented and logical conclusions made.

Importance of Public Inquiry

Mistakes commonly help people improve; however, in the justice system, mistakes might have too high a price, being measured by human lives, and even more strikingly – children’s. In the practice of the justice system in the United Kingdom, the implementation of a public inquiry is a pivotal element of the development of social and justice-related decision-making. It often relates to issues of a large scale that require accurate and extensive police investigation, in which society is particularly interested. It is pivotal to oversee the process of investigation and ensure that not only the case is transparent but also that society and institutions learn from it. Crimes that concern the general public and are characterized by unprecedented details are most commonly addressed by public inquiry chairs. In particular, one of the vivid examples of such a disturbing case is the Soham Murders that will be explored in this presentation.

Soham Murders Victims. Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman

The public inquiry at the center of this presentation is the Soham Murders, which was a significant investigation case in the history of the UK’s justice and legal system that caused social and institutional changes. The girls in the picture are Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman (Guyoncourt, 2022). They were ten years old each when in August 2002 they were murdered by asphyxiation by their school caretaker (Maynard, 2020). The case attracted social attention due to the concerns of the general public about the neglect of the school administration to overlook the police history of their employee, as well as by the mere outrage of the crime committed. Since the events of this case have had far-reaching implications due to public inquiry, it is relevant to review the description of the case and its investigation.

Soham Murders Event Description

Two 10-year-old girls, Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells went out to buy candy shortly after 6:30 pm on 4 August 2002 in Soham village in Cambridgeshire (Guyoncourt, 2022). They were last seen not far from their homes in the neighborhood (Guyoncourt, 2022). A fortnight of searching resulted in finding the girls’ “substantially decomposed bodies were found by chance in a drainage ditch, submerged in a lake of maggots” (Khalil, 2005, p. 187). Their clothes were found partially burned in a bin at the school that the girls attended (Martin, 2019). The investigation was launched; ultimately, not only the murderer was found, but a list of institutional and legal failures was identified.

In the course of the investigation, a series of forensic sciences and methods were used to identify the bodies, track the burned clothes of the victims, establish the girls’ movement, and find the criminal. The evidence showed that the girls were killed the same evening. It was found that the girls were killed on 4 August 2002 and transported the same evening to the point of deposition, which was a 30-minute ride from Soham (Martin, 2019). There, the clothes were removed from the bodies of the girls with scissors, and the bodies were then burned (Khalil, 2005). It was by the DNA and dental records that the identities of the girls were established.

The photograph shows Ian Huntley, who worked as a caretaker at the school where Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells studied. The man was suspected of murder and officially convicted of committing the double murder of the two girls on 17 December 2003 (Guyoncourt, 2022). The court sentenced Huntley to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years, which will expire in 2042 (Martin, 2019). However, the judge who ruled the case expressed “little or no hope of the defendant’s eventual release” (Martin, 2019, para. 21). The investigation revealed several issues that contributed to the accuracy of the conviction and sentencing.

In the course of the investigation, Huntley’s fingerprints on the schoolyard bin where the victims’ clothes were burned were located (Martin, 2019). Another detail that helped to claim assertively that Huntley was guilty was the fact that he changed his car tires the next day following the murder; he bribed the clerk to indicate an earlier date on the receipt, which was later disclosed (Martin, 2019). Moreover, Jessica Chapman’s phone location record was last registered at 6:45 at a point near Huntley’s house (Khalil, 2005). In addition, the inconsistency in alibi details provided by Huntley and his girlfriend signified lies. Ultimately, the combination of the details allowed for accusing and then sentencing the criminals.

Ian Huntley invited the girls to his house when they were passing by his home on the afternoon of their murder, telling them that his girlfriend, Maxine Carr (shown in the picture), was there (Martin, 2019). Carr worked as a secondary school teacher at the girls’ school, the same facility where Huntley was employed as a caretaker. During the investigation, Carr provided a false alibi for Huntley, claiming they were together, while in reality, Carr was outside Soham the night of the murders (Khalil, 2005). Moreover, the most significant issue that led to the disclosure of Huntley’s identity was his appearance in the media, during which he expressed his hopes for the girls’ safe return (Martin, 2019). Residents of the town where Huntley had lived before moving to Soham recognized him and reported his history of sex crimes.

Media’s and Public’s Attention to the Case

The investigation of the case attracted significant attention from the media in the United Kingdom and around the globe, as well as the general public. The most striking were the drawbacks in the employment and checking procedures that failed to detect their prior criminal history of Huntley before recruiting him with the facility for children. The launching of a public inquiry was vitally important to satisfy the request of society. According to Norris and Shepheard (2017), “the extent to which inquiries uncover the truth is critical to whether they succeed in restoring public confidence in the institutions of government and to providing victims and their families some sense of having been heard” (p. 3). Thus, it was imperative to initiate an independent inquiry into the case.

Problematic Issues That Led to the Inquiry

Indeed, the increased attention to the case and the far-reaching implications of the problems in the organization of the involved agency’s work necessitated immediate action and the launching of a public inquiry. According to Bichard (2004), “in the days following Huntley’s conviction, there was widespread public disquiet when it became clear that he had been known to the authorities over years” (p. 1). The general public and media were questioning the relevance of child protection measures in the UK’s education system. Moreover, the omission of the authorities of the records on Huntley’s sex assaults and child molestation instances was disturbing.

The Bichard Inquiry

Ultimately, a public inquiry initiated for the Soham murders case was appointed to Sir Michael Bichard. According to the standard procedure, Home Secretary asked Bichard to conduct an independent inquiry related to the child protection measures within the case of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells’ murder (Bichard, 2004). The inquiry chair was expected to investigate the work of the agencies involved in the case and detect their failures (Bichard, 2004). Moreover, as the result of the inquiry, the chairman was to outline recommendations for making necessary changes to the current system of justice, social services, and governmental regulation. Ultimately, Bichard’s report illustrated a list of concerns, failings, and recommendations. They led to a “radical change in the attitude of all public sector, and many private sectors, employers, particularly concerning the taking-up of references in cases involving contact with, or supervision of, children” (Khalil, 2005, p. 187).

Concerns Addressed by the Inquiry Chair

The concerns at the center of the launched inquiry were multifaceted and addressed the involvement of several agencies. Firstly, the relevance of record-keeping practices were questioned (The Bichard inquiry report – a summary, n. d.). Secondly, the vetting practices on personnel recruitment needed to be reviewed and assessed. Thirdly, the process of information exchange between agencies to ensure informed child protection (The Bichard inquiry report – a summary, n. d.). Fourthly, the inquiry was concerned with the identification of similar drawbacks across the government (Bichard, 2004). Finally, social services’ improper quality of performance was also questioned within the framework of the Soham murders public inquiry.

Failings Identified During the Inquiry

Michael Bichard managed to identify the following list of failings after conducting his inquiry. Firstly, a “failure to identify Ian Huntley’s behavior pattern” was associated with the responsibilities of police and social services (The Bichard inquiry report – a summary, n. d., p. 1). Secondly, underage sex accusations were irrelevantly considered by police and social services. Thirdly, there were “flaws in the recruitment process” at the Soham Village College (The Bichard inquiry report – a summary, n. d., p. 1). Fourthly, information technologies were absent for recording police intelligence identified within the responsibilities of the Home Office. Finally, within Home Office, the “lack of national code of practice to cover record creation, retention, deletion, and information-sharing” was detected (The Bichard inquiry report – a summary, n. d., p. 1).

Recommendations of the Inquiry Chair

Following the identified failings, Bichard (2004) developed a series of recommendations for different agencies. The recommendations were aimed at the elimination of the detected uncertainties and issues, as well as the prevention of similar problems in the future. The proposed recommendations were aimed at restructuring the approaches and guidelines employed at the central governmental level, including the Home Office and the Department of Education and Skills (The Bichard inquiry report – a summary, n. d.). At the same time, the changes were recommended for the local-level agencies, including education and social services departments (The Bichard inquiry report – a summary, n. d.). Overall, better inter-agency cooperation concerning child protection was encouraged.

In addition, the following recommendations were provided: national IT systems improvement and the development of a new national Code for information management across agencies (Bichard, 2004). The handling of sexual crimes against children was recommended to be more accurate to ensure that “the police are notified as soon as possible when a criminal offense has been committed” (Bichard, 2004, p. 14). Moreover, specialized training for recruitment interviewers was recommended and an in-depth vetting procedure for all the employees involved in the educational field was encouraged.

Evaluation of the Inquiry: Strengths

Many strengths characterize the conducted public inquiry. In particular, Bichard (2004) carried out a complete multifaceted investigation across agencies with the ultimate accurate identification of flaws. The inquiry chair made practice-based recommendations for improvement, which were easy to follow. Another strength is the relevance of the proposed changes to the system of justice and the expectations of the public. Finally, the employed result-oriented approach to change implementation was a beneficial aspect of the inquiry that guaranteed its success.

Inquiry Chair’s Level of Involvement

Another significant strength of the Soham murders public inquiry is the diligence and the high level of involvement of Lord Bichard in the process. According to research, “Lord Bichard, who chaired the Soham Inquiry, went as far as informally reconvening the inquiry six months after it reported, to monitor the progress of his recommendations” (Norris and Shepheard, 2017, p. 18). Thus, due to the significant concern on the part of the chair, an in-depth investigation with deliberate criticism was conducted with multi-level inspections of defects. Furthermore, the chairman voluntarily initiated post-implementation checking of the changes and participated in the continuous review and correction of outcomes.

Evaluation of the Inquiry: Weaknesses

When identifying the weaknesses of the conducted inquiry, one might identify several crucial points. They all are related to the phase of the implementation of the changes suggested by the results of Bichard’s report. In particular, as informed by the claims of Maynard (2020), the inquiry has triggered the dichotomy between privacy and transparency concerns in employment, which remains relevant. The quality and consistency of recruitment training are not properly developed (Community Care, 2006). Furthermore, the proposed changes to the recruitment procedures for better background checking of the candidates seeking employment at childcare facilities were not implemented fully (Community Care, 2006). Finally, the recommendations were not implemented consistently, which demonstrates partial improvement of the agencies’ cooperation and separate functioning.

Inquiry Outcomes for the Police

Regardless of the identified weaknesses, the conducted public inquiry has produced a multitude of positive outcomes across agencies. The police’s performance and functioning concerning investigating child protection-related cases have changed. According to research on Bichard’s inquiry, “the Home Office’s 2005 MoPI guidance on police information management was published as a direct result of this report, highlighting its impact on the legal landscape” (Maynard, 2020, p. 110). Data exchange between different public and private entities has been enhanced. Moreover, the inquiry has generated a stimulus for the extensive incorporation of IT systems for record-keeping related to intelligence management by the police.

Inquiry Outcomes for Education

The inquiry has generated a shift in the process of raising awareness about threats to child safety in the educational setting. In particular, it allowed for placing a priority on child protection measures, which validated the necessity to disclose personal data on workers involved in child care. Moreover, school employees are not subject to in-depth vetting procedures to ensure their eligibility for recruitment at an educational facility.

Inquiry Outcomes for Vetting

The implementation of vetting procedures has been one of the most valuable outcomes of public inquiry. According to Bichard (2004), “all posts, including those in schools, that involve working with children, and vulnerable adults, should be subject to the Enhanced Disclosure regime” (p. 14). As the outcome of the inquiry, police vetting checks were initiated and successfully conducted. Multi-staged checking processes and a specialized guideline for reporting incidents or records to responsible bodies have been developed.

Inquiry Outcomes for Recruitment Procedures

At the recruitment level, the inquiry has changed the process of employee enrollment in educational facilities due to stricter background checks and interviews. According to Maynard (2020), “in a post-Soham world, it might be reasonable to conclude that the privacy angle will play a lesser role in the implementation of key child protection policies” (p. 111). Thus, despite being inconsistently implemented, the specialized interviews are conducted and reinforce proper awareness about child offense risks.

National Changes Influenced by Inquiry

At the national level, changes to the conduct concerning child protection issues have been made. In particular, the government requires following the guideline of “Working Together to Safeguard Children so that the police are notified as soon as possible when a criminal offense has been committed or is suspected of having been committed, against a child” (Bichard, 2004, p. 14). Moreover, the inquiry has induced the integration of information technology systems at the national level to unify the records of child offenses.

Conclusion

In summation, this presentation validated that public inquiries are significant drivers of change. The complexity of the Soham murders case unveiled the drawbacks and failures in the performance and organization of the involved agencies. Moreover, a failure of proper cooperation between institutions was identified as a substantial factor that allowed for the crime occurrence. Nonetheless, the evaluation revealed that the implementation of recommendations has been a path to improvement of the justice and social services systems.

References

The Bichard inquiry report – a summary (n. d.) Web.

Bichard, M. (2004) The Bichard inquiry. London: The Stationery Office

Community Care (2006) Failing the Bichard test. Web.

Guyoncourt, S. (2022) ‘Ian Huntley now: what happened to the Soham murderer after he killed Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman’, iNews. Web.

Khalil, K. S. ‘Speeches given at the Council of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences Friends’ dinner – 9 March 2005’, Medicine, Science and the Law, 45(3), pp. 187-193.

Martin, L (2019) ‘Ian Huntley: the 5 mistakes that led to the Soham killer’s downfall explored in tonight’s Channel 5 documentary’, iNews. Web.

Maynard, M. (2020) ‘How effective is the current law governing police retention of data in the UK, at balancing individuals ‘right to private life under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, with the public interest of safety?’, Plymouth Law & Criminal Justice Review, 13, 102-128.

Norris, E. and Shepheard, M. (2017) How public inquiries can lead to change. Institute for Government.