War of words erupts between Letby police force and veteran Tory MP over 'misinformation' and 'baseless claims' after 'multiple failings' accusation
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A war of words erupted today as the police force which led the investigation into Lucy Letby claimed it was being targeted with ‘misinformation’ and ‘baseless claims’.
Speaking in the Commons Chamber on Thursday, a veteran Tory MP accused Cheshire Police of 'serious professional failings' in its probe which resulted in the baby killer serving 15 whole life terms.
Sir David Davis branded the baby killer’s conviction a 'miscarriage of justice' and alleged multiple 'failures of expertise' from both police and prosecutors.
He said he would be writing to the Director of Public Prosecutions asking him to conduct a review into the handling of Letby's case.
Today the Cheshire force hit back in a strongly-worded riposte defending its actions and accusing a ‘core group of individuals’ campaigning on behalf of the former neonatal nurse of ‘attempting to destroy reputations’.
And it warned that the ‘constant noise’ and ‘inaccurate or partial’ claims risked undermining public confidence in the entire criminal justice system.
But Sir David has now slammed the police response, saying it was ‘entirely consistent with their behaviour throughout’.
He demanded the force handed over a list of documentation to the former neonatal nurse's new legal team.
Lucy Letby, 36, was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more over two trials but has always maintained her innocence
Sir David Davis, elected as a Conservative MP in 1987, will write to the Director of Public Prosecutions asking him to conduct a review into the handling of Lucy Letby's case
Letby, who worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital, was convicted of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder of babies under her care – but has always maintained her innocence.
Judges twice rejected her bids to challenge her convictions.
However her new legal team have submitted reports from new medical experts to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which reviews potential miscarriages of justice, in a bid to get her case heard by Court of Appeal judges a third time.
Speaking in the Commons on Thursday, Sir David - elected as a Conservative MP in 1987 – accused Cheshire Police of failing to follow 'all reasonable lines of inquiry' or ‘the letter of the law or best professional practice' during their investigation into Letby.
And the former Brexit Secretary went on to accuse both police and the CPS of ignoring advice to draw witnesses from a panel of independent experts for Letby's trial.
In its hard-hitting response today, Cheshire Police said it ‘strongly refutes’ all the points made during the Parliamentary debate.
‘It implied impropriety on the part of Cheshire Constabulary where none whatsoever has been established,’ a spokesperson said.
‘We remain confident in the integrity of the investigation, the conduct of the prosecution, and the decisions reached by the courts.
‘Over the past two years the force has come under constant criticism and has been intensely scrutinised and subject to unpleasant opinion from a core group of individuals who appear to pride themselves on spreading misinformation, making baseless claims and attempting to destroy reputations.
Lucy Letby, who was a nurse on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester hospital, was convicted of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder of babies under her care – but has always maintained her innocence
‘While scrutiny of policing is legitimate and welcome, it is essential that such scrutiny is grounded in fact and does not inadvertently cut across due process, ongoing legal considerations, or the independence of the judiciary.
‘The constant noise surrounding this case, inaccurate or partial information being presented as fact and attempts to hi-jack the perceived narrative risk undermining public confidence not only in this case – but in the wider criminal justice system.
‘Public confidence is best served by evidence-based discussion and responsible commentary – not ill-informed personal opinions and inaccurate details.’
The force said it was committed to ‘victim-focused justice, public confidence, and the rule of law’.
‘Our thoughts remain with the families of the babies – who have always been at the heart of this case,’ the statement concluded.
In response, the MP for Goole and Pocklington told the Daily Mail: ‘I am unsurprised by the response from Cheshire Police; this is entirely consistent with their behaviour throughout.
‘If Cheshire Police believe they behaved entirely appropriately, they should provide all the documentation I listed in my debate in Parliament yesterday to Ms Letby's defence lawyers.’
These include senior detectives’ log books from the original investigation, records of lines of inquiry, meetings with expert witnesses and planning which took place ahead of Letby’s police interviews.
Responding to Sir David in the Commons on Thursday, policing minister Sarah Jones said MPs need to be 'very careful to avoid implying impropriety where none has actually been established'.
She added that 'there has been a proper process involving independent assessment by the CPS, trial by a jury, and two appeal processes that has resulted in the conviction and imprisonment of Lucy Letby'.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: 'Lucy Letby was convicted of 15 separate counts following two jury trials.
'In May 2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed Letby’s leave to appeal on all grounds – rejecting her argument that expert prosecution evidence was flawed.'
Letby is serving a record 15 whole life terms after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more – one of whom she attacked twice – over two trials at Manchester Crown Court, in August 2023 and July 2024.
In January, the CPS announced it would not bring further charges against Letby.
Cheshire Constabulary had submitted files of evidence to consider alleged offences of murder and attempted murder related to two infants who died and seven who survived.
However, CPS chiefs concluded the evidential test was not met in any of the cases.
