Inquiry into UK's most crooked cop just 9 pages - despite him framing 11 people

14 March 2024 , 07:53

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Det Sgt Derek Ridgewell of the British Transport Police framed 11 innocent men in a racist campaign of corruption

An inquiry into Britain’s most crooked police officer stretches to just nine pages, despite him framing 11 innocent men in a racist campaign of corruption.

Critics blasted a “flawed” British Transport Police probe into Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell, obtained by the Mirror.

And solicitors claim a failure to scour records means there could be more victims.

Ridgewell, who died in jail aged 37, made millions with gangs after framing mostly Black victims in London in the 70s, including the Stockwell Six and Oval Four.

Solicitor Matt Foot, of charity Appeal, said the internal probe did “nowhere near enough”, adding: “BTP did not examine all available records, despite claiming it had.”

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Ridgewell framed mostly Black victims in London in the 70s (Mirrorpix)

He died in jail aged 37 (Mirrorpix)

And Regu Saliah, 52, whose father, Saliah Mehmet, fell prey to Ridgwell’s corruption, called it a “completely inappropriate response”, adding: “The BTP needs to acknowledge this and its part in allowing the crimes against him and others to occur.” The review, commissioned after several convictions were overturned, claimed all victims were identified but failed to identify the case of Saliah Mehmet, cleared this year – three years after the report was finished.

Destroyed

It also identified other officers who “colluded” with Ridgewell but seemingly failed to quiz them as they had retired. And investigators contradicted statements by senior BTP officers who said they “examined all available records” – because in reality they had been “unable to obtain case files for Ridgewell’s investigations”.

Basil Peterkin was a victim of Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell's corruption and died with his conviction (PA)

Saliah Mehmet was also framed by the cop (PA)

A hoard of vital documents on Ridgewell had also been destroyed. Solicitors fear there could be other victims and Mr Saliah added: “There is a clear failure to properly investigate the extent of Ridgewell’s corruption.” The report accepted there are “victims of gross miscarriages of justice” who should get “full and unreserved public apologies”.

Its author added: “It is unfortunate the relevant records are no longer available as I have been unable to identify further cases.” Ridgewell joined the BTP in 1964 and framed dozens of young, mostly Black men for mugging people on the Underground.

Six Black men were arrested travelling from Stockwell Tube in 1972. They went on trial accused of trying to rob Ridgewell despite claiming police threatened violence. Four were cleared in 2021 after it emerged Ridgewell framed them. One was acquitted at trial and one has not been traced.

Ridgewell also arrested the Oval Four in 1972 for stealing handbags. They were each jailed for eight months but their convictions were overturned in 2019 and 2020. Basil Peterkin and Mr Mehmet were jailed in 1977 – framed by Ridgewell over a theft from a depot he later admitted stealing £364,000 from. Both died before their convictions were overturned this year.

Supporters and relatives of Basil Peterkin and Saliah Mehmet, who were cleared posthumously in January (PA)

The BTP were criticised for failing to sack Ridgewell in 1973 when a series of prosecutions were dismissed over allegations of violence and corruption. He was moved to probing mailbag theft and teamed up with criminals to split the profits of stolen post. He also helped villains steal lorry loads of goods from the Bricklayers Arms Goods Depot in Bermondsey, South East London.

Ridgewell was caught in 1978 and jailed for seven years for conspiracy to rob in 1980 – dying in his cell of a heart attack in 1982. Deputy Chief Constable Alistair Sutherland, said: “We are profoundly sorry to everyone affected by DS Ridgewell’s atrocious actions in the 1970s and the trauma that victims and their families suffered as a result.

“In 2020 we undertook a review into the background service history of DS Derek Ridgewell. As a result of this review and our contact with the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), we identified seven officers associated with Ridgewell. Additionally two officers DC Ellis and DC Keeling also received convictions for their involvement in criminality with DS Ridgewell.

“Our Information Management Unit searched all databases and available records in relation to these officers but this yielded no information due to police retention policies and practices at the time, with databases also no longer in existence. All officers had also been retired for a significant period of time.

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“As a force we are truly disgusted by the actions of Derrick Ridgewell. We cannot change our past, but we can certainly learn from it. In January this year we launched a further operation bringing together senior leaders and detectives from across the force to establish if there is anything else we can do to identify further individuals who are victims of miscarriage of justice. The team will be working closely with the CCRC to establish if there are any other potential means of locating information or records from that time.

“We want to thank the CCRC for the work they have done in identifying victims thus far and we encourage any possible victims or their families to contact the CCRC or BTP if they feel they have been subject to miscarriage of justice. Ridgewell’s actions do not define the BTP of today who are passionate about protecting the public and doing the right thing. We remain wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that nothing like this ever happens again.”

Dan Warburton