Exclusive: police write letter to Raoul Moat

As the hunt for alleged gunman Raoul Moat continues near the North East village of Rothbury, Channel 4 News has exclusively obtained a copy of a letter purportedly written by Northumbria Police and distributed to “friends” of Raoul Moat in the hope he may contact them.

The letter confirms Raoul Moat had been in direct contact with police twice on Sunday morning. Police officer David Rathband was shot in the chest on Sunday morning.

The letter, which is written on Northumbria Police paper, is addressed simply to “Raoul”. One line in the letter gives clues as to Moat’s demeanour in his 999 calls to police stating: “You told us how angry you were.”

The letter calls on Moat to get in contact with police and indicates that officers will be able to provide him with an update on the medical condition of his partner Samantha Stobbart, who was shot and seriously injured on Saturday morning.

The letter, from the force’s “Alarm Section” reads: “Raoul. Early on Sunday morning you contacted us on two ocassions by dialling 999 and told us about what you had done and why you did these things.

“You told us how angry you were and you also told us that you were sorry that Sam had been so seriously hurt.

“We understand how personal and important these things are to you.

“We want you to contact us again as soon as you are able so we can discuss these things with you and provide you with a full update on how Sam is.

“Please call us on 999 and you will be through to us immediately.”

The letter confirms that Raoul Moat has been in direct contact with police at two separate times on Sunday morning around the time a police officer was shot in the chest.

Interviewing the friend who wore a bullet proof vest

It was delivered at nightime and addressed to Raoul Moat, writes Channel 4 News correspondent Darshna Soni.

An extrodinary letter to a wanted gunman, written by the detectives trying to hunt him down. The letter gives us an insight into the psychological methods being used by Northumbria Police, as they try to catch Moat.

So far, he has used letters to communicate with them – now they are trying to communicate back in the same way. It was left with a close friend, in case the fugitive contacts him. But Raoul Moat's friends still have a strong sense of loyalty to the gunman.

I've been talking to some of those who grew up with him on his estate. They all wanted to remain anonymous, because they don't want to be seen as "grassing him up." One man was so paranoid that he turned up to meet me wearing a bullet proof vest.

I was taken, along with my cameraman and producer, to an address in Newcastle. There were five deadlocks on the front door, which were bolted firmly once we were in. Moat’s friend agreed to show us the letter.

He didn't think it would make any difference and told me "It's not gonna end nicely. That’s just the character he is like. I don't want him to die, but I think he will."

Tent found

Earlier today police revealed they had found the tent in what they described as a “secluded area” near Rothbury, where a two-mile exclusion zone had been imposed yesterday. Many of the restrictions have now been lifted.

An eight-page letter addressed to Ms Stobbard was also found nearby. Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Adamson said the contents were “personal” – but said it had not been shown to Moat’s former girlfriend.

However detectives said the letter repeated a claim that Ms Stobbard’s new partner was a police officer, which they again stressed was not the case.

At a news conference this morning, the officer leading the hunt for Northumbria Police repeated his claim from yesterday that “the net is closing” on Moat.

They also offered a £10,000 reward for help in tracing him.

The 37-year-old former nightclub bouncer, who was released from prison on Thursday, is suspected of shooting his former partner Samantha Stobbart and killing her new boyfriend Chris Brown at Birtley, Gateshead on Saturday.

Moat is also suspected of shooting Pc David Rathband, 42, in his patrol car in Newcastle during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police manhunt

Moat has been on the run since Saturday’s shooting, despite a massive police manhunt. Officers say he could still be armed and confirmed they believe he is responsible for a robbery at a fish and chip shop in Blyth on Monday.

Detective Chief Superintendent Adamson said he was confident Moat would be found.

“In a wider sense, the net is closing. In terms of the overall investigation, we are making steady and significant progress,” he said.

“I am concerned, as I’m sure everyone in the country is, that we apprehend Mr Moat very soon.”

'Extraordinarily close to the village of Rothbury'

It is extraordinary how close to Rothbury is the campsite where Raoul Moat bivvyed down over the weekend, according to the police, writes Channel 4 News Chief Correspondent Alex Thomson.

You only have to walk 100 yards down a disused railway track from the carpark where the police found the beaten up Lexus, allegedly used by Moat and his two accomplices.

You pass through a narrow railway cutting through rock and there on your left is an open iron gate.

It is then that you see a line of police tape fixed to thistles across a meadow. In one corner, secluded, screened by trees on three sides, are the embers of a recent campfire.

You can see the nearest house, not 500 yards away to the east, just across the gorge where the river Coquet flows, that Raoul Moat loves so much.

Lying close the embers of that fire we found the tag for an item of clothing. It was from Primark. It was for £2. The size? Extra large.

Close by, some recently made holes in fences and - bizarrely - a large, recently dead badger.

It is here the police say they recovered Raoul Moat's tent. Along with that, an eight-page letter to Samantha Stobbart, the former partner he is suspected of shooting. 

A more detailed description of the gunman was also issued.

He is six foot three inches tall, with dyed blond hair and blue eyes. He is thought to be wearing a grey or dark blue hooded top, a red t-shirt, dark jeans and white trainers.

Moat was released from Durham Prison on Thursday after an 18-week sentence for assault.

Officers had been warned he may have been planning to harm his former girlfriend. Northumbria Police have already referred their handling of the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Northumbria Police have already called in firearms officers from Cumbria, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Humberside and Cleveland Police.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed to Channel 4 News that it has supplied around 40 firearms officers, including rifle officers (snipers) from its specialist firearms unit CO19. The snipers are armed with Heckler and Koch G36 assault rifles, a favourite weapon of the SAS when serving in Northern Ireland.

Eight armoured response vehicles have also been sent up to the region, each carrying three officers. They are armed with 9mm Glock pistols and MP5 carbines as well as Taser electric stun guns.

A Metropolitan police spokesman said: “We are sending a specialist firearms officer team, which includes some rifle officers.

“We are also sending some eight armed response vehicles, which carry three officers in each. They are equipped with regular MP5 weapons.”

The Met’s support was at the request of Northumbria police.

Former Scotland Yard Elite Armed Response Unit firearms officer Roger Gray told Channel 4 News: “The Met specialist firearms section, CO19, will be deployed to the area to help advise Northumbria Police in the search (for Moat). The operation will focus on advice, containment and open country search.

“By this the CO19 officers, who will be wearing body armour and carrying shields, will slowly area off the location and search for evidence that he’s been there. This will be done by armoured response vehicles, but also by foot where able. As they cover ground and check off areas, they should be accompanied by search dogs to sniff out any leads.”

An MoD spokesman based in Yorkshire confirmed the military is not assisting in the search for Moat.