Conservative former Cabinet minister Sir David Davis has announced he will formally request a review into the conduct of both Cheshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) regarding the high-profile case of convicted nurse Lucy Letby. Sir David revealed his intention during a session in the House of Commons on Thursday, stating he will write to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Stephen Parkinson, to initiate this process.
Allegations of Systemic Failures
Sir David Davis, a prominent Conservative MP and former Brexit Secretary, levelled serious accusations against Cheshire Police, claiming the force repeatedly ignored or breached established rules during their investigation into Lucy Letby. He described the case as potentially representing "one of the major injustices of modern times," echoing concerns that have emerged about a possible miscarriage of justice.
Lucy Letby, a 35-year-old from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole life orders. She was convicted at Manchester Crown Court for the murder of seven infants and the attempted murder of seven others between June 2015 and June 2016. The attacks occurred while she worked as a nurse on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, with methods including the injection of air into the bloodstream, causing fatal air embolisms.
Specific Criticisms and Demands
In his address to ministers, Sir David outlined a series of alleged failures by the investigating authorities:
- Failure to pursue alternative lines of inquiry.
- Failure to refer the case to appropriate specialist authorities.
- Failure to conduct proper due diligence on the appointment of key and expert witnesses.
- Failure to engage with real experts concerning complex statistical evidence and to correctly inform the jury.
- Failure to disclose critical material to the defence on multiple occasions.
He asserted that these actions represented "clear, serious departures from statutory guidance and multiple deviations from best professional practice." To address these concerns, Sir David called for the immediate release of a comprehensive set of documents to Letby's defence team, including:
- The senior investigating officers' policy books and decision books.
- Records of all identified lines of inquiry.
- Logs maintained by functional managers.
- Minutes from all meetings, ranging from team meetings to Gold coordination meetings.
Sir David stated he would publish a full list of these requested documents online. He emphasised that irrespective of Cheshire Police's response, he would proceed with his letter to the DPP, requesting a review of the behaviour of both the CPS and the police.
Historical Parallels and Government Response
The former minister drew a direct comparison between the Letby case and the infamous case of Sally Clark, a woman wrongly convicted of murdering her two infant sons in 1999, whose conviction was later overturned. The Clark prosecution had relied heavily on flawed statistical evidence regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Sir David warned that despite the lessons that should have been learned from that miscarriage of justice, similar patterns appeared in the Letby investigation.
In response, Policing Minister Sarah Jones defended the investigative process. She stated that "a meticulous and very lengthy investigation" had led to Letby being identified as a suspect and arrested. Minister Jones highlighted that "there has been a proper process involving independent assessment by the CPS, trial by a jury, and two appeal processes" which resulted in the conviction and imprisonment.
She cautioned against undermining public confidence in the police and the criminal justice system, urging care to avoid implying impropriety where none has been formally established. While acknowledging Sir David's right to write to the DPP, she reiterated her confidence in the due process followed, the effectiveness of Cheshire Constabulary, and the jury's verdict upheld on appeal.
Cheshire Police have been contacted for comment regarding these allegations. Meanwhile, Lucy Letby's case is under separate review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), after judges previously rejected her bids to challenge her convictions directly.
