Two police constables from Cambridgeshire are under investigation for potential gross misconduct over their handling of a stabbing incident that may be connected to the notorious Huntingdon train attacks.
Alleged Failures in Peterborough Attack Probe
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed on Thursday, 8 January 2026, that it has notified the two officers of the investigation. The probe centres on alleged failures to properly investigate a reported assault in Fletton, Peterborough, on 27 September 2025.
Victim Ricky Butcher stated he was waiting for a taxi outside the Fletton Club with a group of five witnesses when he was stabbed. He suffered a cut to the mouth requiring stitches and reports lasting facial numbness. Mr Butcher expressed fury that Cambridgeshire Police halted their investigation just two days after the attack.
Potential Link to Huntingdon Train Stabbings
This case gained significant attention following the mass stabbing on an LNER train service from Doncaster to King's Cross on 1 November 2025. Cambridgeshire Police had already commissioned an internal review of events prior to that attack, which included Mr Butcher's case.
Anthony Williams, 32, is charged with 10 counts of attempted murder concerning the Huntingdon train incident. The IOPC investigation into the Peterborough stabbing began in November 2025 after a referral from the force.
IOPC Investigation Progresses
An IOPC spokesperson emphasised that the investigation is ongoing and that notifying the officers does not guarantee disciplinary proceedings. "At the end of our investigation, we'll decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings," the spokesperson stated.
The officers are being investigated for potential gross misconduct specifically related to the alleged failures in investigating the September incident. The outcome of this independent probe will determine the next steps for the involved constables.
