The IPCC has completed its independent investigation into the alleged destruction of documents by South Wales Police in the trial of eight former police officers and two civilians (R v Mouncher and others) which was discontinued on 1 December 2011.
South Wales Police voluntarily referred the matter to the IPCC and an independent investigation started on 2 December. On 17 January 2012, the documents in question were found.
HMCPSI is conducting an extensive review into wider aspects of the prosecution led by Michael Fuller, HM Chief Inspector. The IPCC has shared its investigation findings and evidence with the HMCPSI under a mutual agreement.
As these two independent investigations relate to the same trial the IPCC and the Crown Prosecution Service have agreed to publish the results of both investigations at the same time, once the HMCPSI investigation has been completed. Co-ordinating publication will ensure that a comprehensive account of both investigations is provided at the same time. The publication date will be confirmed but is anticipated to be in the first half of 2013.
The R v Mouncher and others trial arose from an investigation by South Wales Police of allegations concerning the conduct of the original inquiry into the murder of Lynette White in Cardiff in 1988. This investigation, which was supervised from August 2004 by the IPCC under the provisions of the Police Act, is also now complete. South Wales Police will be submitting its final report on the investigation to the IPCC Commissioner for Wales Tom Davies. This report will be published on the IPCC website in due course.
South Wales Police referred allegations of misconduct concerning the original police inquiry into the murder of Lynette White under the provisions of the Police Act in 2003 to the Police Complaints Authority. The force was told to re-refer the matter if it found that there was substance to the allegations. SWP re-referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2004 and the IPCC used the powers available to its predecessor body, the PCA, and supervised the police investigation.
© Independent Police Complaints Commission All Rights Reserved