Cardiff Five: concerns over collapsed police prosecutions
Senior high court judges have expressed serious concerns over the failed prosecutions of south Wales police officers involved in the Cardiff Five miscarriage of justice case.
12 officers went on trial in 2011 on charges of fabricating evidence and serious misconduct during the investigation into the 1988 murder of Lynette White, which led to the wrongful convictions of five men, who became known as the Cardiff Five.
A series of disclosure problems led to the police officers’ trial being aborted when files were alleged to have been shredded by the investigators. They turned up eight weeks later.
The case is estimated to have cost the public purse £30m.
Today the high court postponed an appeal against the home secretary’s refusal to hold a public inquiry but said serious issues around public confidence in the administration of justice needed to be addressed.
The police officers who stood trial and were under investigation have filed a total of 266 complaints against South Wales police and 10 of those acquitted are taking legal action against the force.
South Wales police told Channel 4 News –
“A number of complaints against serving and former South Wales police officers and staff concerning the Lynette White investigation and prosecution were referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and subsequently returned to the force for local investigation.
“To ensure these complaints receive independent scrutiny, they have been referred by South Wales police to Devon and Cornwall police to be investigated.
“It is inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”