Failing police 'could leave serial killer free to murder like Stephen Port'

27 April 2023 , 21:01

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Stephen Port killed four young gay men (Image: PA)

Shocking police failings like those made during the bungled investigation into serial killer Stephen Port will happen again, a report reveals.

The police inspectorate said murderers probably continue to escape justice because their crimes are not spotted by poorly supervised and inexperienced officers.

Port, 48, killed four young gay men but despite obvious similarities police failed to spot a connection or even realise they were murdered.

Inquest jurors found failings in the probe into Anthony Walgate’s death probably contributed to Port murdering the others.

Anthony, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth, 21, and Jack Taylor, 25, were all found dead in similar circumstances close to Port’s East London home over 16 months up to September 2015.

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Anthony Walgate (PA)

Gabriel Kovari (PA)

Despite Port having been accused of drug rape and convicted of lying over Anthony’s death, the killings were not treated as suspicious until weeks after the death of fourth victim Jack.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services said the findings went “much wider than the Met” and were sharing the report with forces nationwide.

However, it found the Met had also been “slow to listen and reluctant to change until it is forced to do so”.

Daniel Whitworth (PA)

Jack Taylor (PA)

The report said: “The most challenging question to answer is whether events like these could happen again. History and the findings of this inspection tell us that they will.”

Asked if police are missing murders, His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said: “It seems to me likely, if not certain.”

Mr Parr said that nearly eight years after the Port scandal the Met “has still not learned enough from the calamitous litany of failures in that case”.

Inspectors made 20 recommendations for the Met, including increasing the use of intelligence by officers responding to deaths and improving family liaison in unexpected deaths.

Mr Parr continued: “Our inspection has shown that history could repeat itself. That is why the Met must learn from its mistakes and act now.”

Tom Pettifor