THE family of one of three women whose lives could have been saved if police had investigated serial killer Harold Shipman properly yesterday labelled the force as “appallingly incompetent.”

Two detectives whose investigation into serial killer Harold Shipman failed to spot his crimes were unfit to handle the case, the inquiry into his crimes ruled today.

The present system of coroners in England and Wales needs to be radically reformed, the Shipman Inquiry said today.