Cheshire Police Condemn Reputation Attacks in Lucy Letby Murder Probe
Cheshire Constabulary has issued a forceful statement condemning those "attempting to destroy reputations" over their handling of the Lucy Letby murder investigation. The police force made this declaration on Friday, March 27, 2026, following critical comments made in Parliament by former cabinet minister Sir David Davis.
Defending Investigation Integrity
The constabulary "strongly refutes" all points raised by Sir David Davis during Thursday's adjournment debate in the House of Commons. The former Brexit Secretary had claimed there were "multiple deviations from best professional practice" during the investigation into Letby's crimes.
In their detailed response, Cheshire Constabulary stated: "It implied impropriety on the part of Cheshire Constabulary where none whatsoever has been established. We remain confident in the integrity of the investigation, the conduct of the prosecution, and the decisions reached by the courts."
Ongoing Political Scrutiny
Sir David Davis told ministers he would write to the Director of Public Prosecutions to request a formal review of the police force's conduct. The former minister had previously described the Letby case as "one of the major injustices of modern times" and called for the release of numerous documents including:
- Investigators' policy books and decision books
- Records of identified lines of inquiry
- Minutes from key investigation meetings
Background of the Case
Lucy Letby, 35, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders after being convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others. The horrific crimes occurred between June 2015 and June 2016 while Letby worked as a nurse on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
The babies were attacked through various means during their vulnerable time in hospital care. Letby's case is currently under review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission after judges rejected her previous attempts to challenge her convictions.
Police Statement Details
Cheshire Constabulary expressed concern about what they described as "constant noise" surrounding the case, warning that this undermines public confidence in the justice system. Their statement continued: "Over the past two years, the force has come under constant criticism and has been intensely scrutinised and subject to unpleasant opinion from a core group of individuals who appear to pride themselves on spreading misinformation, making baseless claims and attempting to destroy reputations."
The police emphasized that while scrutiny of policing is legitimate and welcome, it must be "grounded in fact" and should not interfere with due process, ongoing legal considerations, or judicial independence.
Concerns About Public Confidence
The constabulary warned that "inaccurate or partial information being presented as fact and attempts to hijack the perceived narrative risk undermining public confidence not only in this case, but in the wider criminal justice system."
They stressed that public confidence is best served by evidence-based discussion and responsible commentary rather than what they described as "ill-informed personal opinions and inaccurate details."
Commitment to Victims
Cheshire Constabulary concluded their statement by reaffirming their commitment to "victim-focused justice, public confidence and the rule of law." They added: "Our thoughts remain with the families of the babies, who have always been at the heart of this case."
The police force maintains that their investigation was conducted with proper integrity and professionalism, despite the ongoing criticism from certain political figures and commentators.
