David Davis Condemns Cheshire Police for 'Egregious' Failures in Lucy Letby Investigation
In a parliamentary debate, Conservative former cabinet minister David Davis has launched a scathing critique of Cheshire police, accusing them of making "egregious" failures in the investigation into nurse Lucy Letby. Davis asserted that Letby, convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more, has suffered a serious miscarriage of justice due to the force's lapses.
Criticisms of Police Procedures and Expert Oversight
Davis highlighted that Cheshire police failed to adhere to official guidance and best professional practice during their probe into the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital from 2015 to 2016. He pointed out that the force did not appoint appropriate medical and statistics experts, nor did they pursue all potential lines of inquiry into the babies' deaths and collapses. "This investigation was initiated by a single meeting with consultants who had themselves been involved in seriously inadequate care of these babies," Davis stated, arguing that this led to a narrow focus on Letby rather than a comprehensive examination of all factors.
Furthermore, Davis criticized the police for not following advice to form an expert panel and for dismissing medical statistician Prof Jane Hutton after initially engaging her. He also claimed that the force "failed to conduct proper due diligence" on the experts they did appoint, including retired paediatrician Dr Dewi Evans.
Support from Former Detectives and Medical Experts
Davis based his intervention on reviews by two former police detectives: former Det Supt Stuart Clifton, who led the Beverley Allitt investigation, and Steve Watts, a former assistant chief constable who authored national guidelines on healthcare death investigations. "Both policemen believed that Letby was guilty until they examined the hard facts. Both now agree it is a serious miscarriage of justice," Davis emphasized.
Since Letby's conviction and sentencing to 15 whole-life sentences, with the court of appeal denying her permission to appeal, dozens of medical experts have re-examined the evidence. They argue that the babies' deaths were due to natural causes and poor care, with no evidence of murder or deliberate harm. Letby's lawyer, Mark McDonald, has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to have the case sent back to the court of appeal, a move currently under review.
Historical Context and Government Response
Davis drew parallels to Cheshire police's past investigation of Sally Clark, a mother wrongly convicted in 1999 based on flawed statistical evidence, whose conviction was later quashed. He plans to call on the director of public prosecutions to review the conduct of both the Crown Prosecution Service and Cheshire police.
In response, policing minister Sarah Jones defended the process, stating that Letby was convicted following "a proper process" and that Cheshire police have received high ratings from the police inspectorate. "I just want to end by reminding the house this country uses due process, there has been due process, that has been followed in the convictions of Lucy Letby with a trial by jury, and upheld on appeal," Jones said, expressing confidence in the force's effectiveness.
