Blunkett: inquiry move

The home secretary has ordered an independent inquiry following the delivery of verdicts in the Soham murder trial.

Ian Huntley has been given two life sentences for murder after the jury delivered an 11-1 guilty verdict in the cases of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

The same majority found Maxine Carr guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

She will serve a three-and-a-half year prison term. David Blunkett has ordered an investigation into how Huntley secured his job as school caretaker, after it emerged that he has faced previous accusations of indecent behaviour towards young girls in Grimsby in the late 1990s.

The probe will be chaired by Sir Michael Bichard, a former permanent secretary at the Department for Education and Employment.

Following Wednesday's court developments, the opposition called Home Office ministers to the Commons to answer an urgent question

Home Office minister Hazel Blears told MPs on Thursday that a new code of practice would be issued to police forces to ensure they kept the Police National Computer up-to-date.

She told the Commons that a year-long inspection had revealed that standards of record-keeping and inputting by forces was "not encouraging".

"Many police forces must do a lot better to achieve the standards we should expect," she said.

Sir Michael will investigate the fact that North East Lincolnshire Social Services received four separate complaints against Huntley - where the victims decided not to make formal complaints, and so no action was taken.

A fifth accusation, this time of indecent assault, was investigated by the police but no prosecution followed.

Humberside Police also received eight complaints against Huntley, who was arrested for failing to appear in court.

"This has been a shocking and horrific case and my thoughts are with Holly and Jessica's families," said Blunkett.

"I cannot begin to imagine the pain they must have endured during this dark time. I hope they will find some comfort in seeing the man responsible for this wicked act brought to justice.

"Real concerns exist, however, about the way in which police intelligence about Huntley's past was handled.

"I am determined that we should uncover the full facts through this independent inquiry.

"The inquiry will be conducted speedily to minimise the distress to the two families and ensure that the lessons which need to be learned can be done so quickly."

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has been asked to examine the findings of a contemporary review by the Metropolitan Police into the early handling of the case by the force in Cambridgeshire, while the North East Lincolnshire Area Child Protection Committee will conduct a serious case review.

The verdicts and the official inquiries have been welcomed by James Paice, Conservative home affairs spokesman and MP for the Soham area.

"I welcome the immediate announcement of an inquiry which must sensitively but quickly establish how Huntley secured approval for his job as a school caretaker," he said.

"I also welcome the study by the chief inspector of constabulary into the way the case was investigated and into criticism made fairly or unfairly against Cambridgeshire Police.

"The last 17 months have been a desperate ordeal for the families of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, whose lives have been shattered by the wickedness of Ian Huntley.

"Nothing will bring the girls back but the families can at least take some solace in the fact that the evil which took Holly and Jessica away from them will be behind bars for a very long time. Only now can they begin to rebuild their lives.

"What emerges from the Inquiry will be dealt with at the time but for now let us pray for the girls' families and friends and for the two schools for whom the last 17 months have been so traumatic."

The Liberal Democrats said that the inquiry would be "of little comfort" to the Wells and Chapman families.

"It is appalling to think this horrible tragedy may have been avoided if the proper background checks had been carried out," said home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten.

"Huntley's previous behaviour should have been enough to establish strong suspicions when he applied for the job of school caretaker. An inquiry will be of little comfort to the parents."

The NSPCC also welcomed the ruling. "Justice has been done in this terrible and shocking case. Our thoughts go out to the families," said chief executive Mary Marsh.

"Killings like this are tragic, but thankfully very rare. However that does not mean society as a whole cannot do more to prevent such deaths, as child protection is everyone's responsibility.

"Protecting our children from harm must include safe recruitment and tougher vetting and selection procedures for people applying to work with children.

"Criminal Records Bureau checks, including those of the police, are a necessary part of vetting and selection procedures, but there must also be a culture of vigilance throughout society as the majority of people who are a risk to children do not have a conviction."