Murphy welcomes publication of Bichard report

Secretary of State Paul Murphy has welcomed the publication of Sir Michael Bichard's inquiry into events leading up to the Soham murders in August 2002.

According to the man who led the report into the police's handling of events preceding the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells, Humberside and Cambridgeshire police failings were so serious that there could potentially be others like Ian Huntley who may have slipped through the net and are now working with children and vulnerable adults.

Mr Murphy said: "I join my colleagues across Government in welcoming the publication of Sir Michael Bichard's report and the recommendations it contains.

"We were all shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of the lives of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. It is vitally important that we learn the lessons from that terrible event and put into place systems to ensure that young and vulnerable people are properly and effectively protected."

Turning to the issue of arrangements for employment checking in Northern Ireland, Mr Murphy said yesterday's report brought home the need for "effective and efficient police checks on those seeking certain types of employment or voluntary positions".

"I have carefully noted the commitment by the Home Secretary to move ahead urgently with the implementation of key recommendations in Sir Michael's report. We will obviously need to examine their application in Northern Ireland," Mr Murphy said.

"I have already decided to place the Northern Ireland arrangements for conducting police checks on a statutory legal framework as soon as practicable. I will look to bring the legal arrangements here broadly into line with those in the rest of the UK."

The Minister said he hoped to have effective new systems in place in the course of 2005. "In driving this work forward, my officials will be consulting with the broadest possible range of interested parties," Mr Murphy said.

"The review of child protection vetting arrangements now being taken forward by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, in collaboration with relevant Northern Ireland departments, will also make a significant contribution in helping to ensure that proper safeguards are put in place for children and young people in Northern Ireland."

The Bichard Report began hearings on 26 February 2004, since then it has heard evidence from sixty-four witnesses, held sixteen days of hearings and received over 2,000 pages of evidence.

Sir Michael confirmed that he will reconvene his Inquiry in six months' time to review progress on the recommendations.

(MB/GMcG)