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John Worboys latest: Supreme Court ruling opens door for victims to sue police over failings

The families of victims of serial killer Stephen Port hope their case will now be successful
The families of victims of serial killer Stephen Port hope their case will now be successful

Relatives of victims murdered by "black cab rapist” John Worboys are among those hoping to bring successful legal challenges over police failings following a landmark ruling, by the Supreme Court.

Justices found forces can be held liable for failings in criminal investigations following a case brought by victims of the serial killer.

Two women whose complaints were not properly investigated, leaving the sex attacker free to attack again, won more than £41,250 after successfully claiming blunders by London's Metropolitan Police had violated their human rights.

With the Government’s support, Scotland Yard appealed the original ruling but it was dismissed by judges who confirmed that “failures in the investigation of the crimes, provided they are sufficiently serious, will give rise to liability on the part of the police”.

Amid concerns over the potential impact of new lawsuits on stretched forces, the National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesperson said it was right for those let down to seek redress.

“This finding is important in clarifying responsibility and liability for police investigations,” they added. “We will now consider the full implications of the judgement and what it could mean for investigations in the future.”

Sir Craig Mackey, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said the force may “see a growth in this type of litigation” and that resources may have to be moved away from crimes such as fraud to deal with the fallout of the decision.

The ruling gave fresh hope to relatives of the victims of Stephen Port, who murdered at least four men and committed multiple rapes before being jailed for life in 2016.

British serial killer Stephen Port (AP)
British serial killer Stephen Port (AP)

Families are suing the Metropolitan Police for more than £200,000 damages after claiming that officers failed to link murders stretching over 15 months because the victims were gay.

Port, 41, met his victims on the Grindr dating app before spiking them with lethal doses of GHB – known as liquid ecstasy – and dumping their bodies close to his east London flat between June 2014 and September 2015.

Police initially believed the young men had overdosed and dismissed concerns raised by their friends and family members.

Officers only realised they had been murdered after a fresh investigation was launched following the death of 25-year-old Jack Taylor, Mr Port’s final victim.

His relatives, along those of Anthony Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth, 21, accuse investigators of breaching the same article of the Human Rights Act used in the successful Worboys case.

Andy Petherbridge, who is representing the families on behalf of Hudgell Solicitors, said the judgement bolsters their case and those of Port’s surviving victims.

“This is a very bad day for the Metropolitan Police as there are likely to be many more claims from victims of violent crime, but a positive day for victims in their fight for justice,” he added.

Mr Petherbridge told The Independent police had previously been considered immune from negligence cases and lawyers will now have the confidence to take them forward.

“I would expect there to be more successful legal action and I think the ruling will influence more people coming forward – we get a lot of enquiries already,” he said. “I hope that the police realise they are going to be accountable for their actions if they don’t do their jobs properly, and have a different approach to investigations.”

But Mr Petherbridge played down fears of a sudden influx of legal claims, saying that the majority of serious crime victims have no wish to undergo the strenuous process.

The Metropolitan Police said it would have to change its resource allocation if legal claims rise (Getty)
The Metropolitan Police said it would have to change its resource allocation if legal claims rise (Getty)

Inquests for the victims are ongoing, as is an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which could recommend legal or disciplinary action against the 17 officers involved.

The Supreme Court ruling on Worboys came just months after HM Inspectorate of Constabulary warned that police were failing to respond to some crimes because of “significant stress” caused by budget cuts.

The number of police officers in England and Wales hit a record low as recorded crime rose by 14 per cent last month and the Government has rebuffed calls for blanket funding increases.

Mr Petherbridge said: “I do accept that in times of cutbacks police cannot do anything they want to do but a lot of the cases I’m instructed in money isn’t the whole picture.”

Sir Craig said the Worboys case had opened the door for a growth in damages claims against police.

“There is no doubt that it will have implications for how we resource and prioritise our investigations,” he added. "We will have to consider how we balance our resources against the need to effectively investigate certain crimes. For example, we may need to consider moving extra resources into an Article 3 investigation from other areas, such as fraud.”

Sir Craig said police had launched the failed appeal against Worboys’ victims not because of “factual differences” on failings, but on the appropriate interpretation of human rights law.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The appeal was about wider legal principles concerning the investigation of serious crime which could have significant implications for operational policing – and which went beyond the case of Worboys and his abhorrent crimes.

“It is right that all parties consider the Supreme Court judgment to ensure the right balance is struck between operational decisions and ensuring that allegations made by victims are properly investigated.”