Soham police chief tells of 'profound emotional effect'

The head of Cambridgeshire police has spoken of the “profound emotional effect” the deaths of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman had on his officers.

Chief Constable Tom Lloyd said the Soham murders “changed” many members of his force.

“For 14 days during August the force was at the centre of the search for Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman the largest of its kind that this country has seen,” Mr Lloyd said in a Christmas message to his officers published in the force’s magazine.

“All in the Constabulary felt the weight of public expectation upon us. People involved in that search worked long hours, well above and beyond the call of duty.

“I would like to thank everybody, including those not directly involved, for their tremendous skill and commitment.

“The discovery of Holly and Jessica’s bodies had a profound emotional effect on us all.

“Everyone knows only too well that their deaths have changed forever the lives of their families, friends and many who make up the Soham community.

“It has also changed many of you in the force.

“The impact ... has gone deeper than teaching us all valuable lessons in policing.

“Those most closely involved were clearly moved by an operation that began with optimism and ended in despair.”

Mr Lloyd, who returned to oversee the investigation after being criticised for beginning his annual summer holiday shortly after the girls vanished, said he had noticed changes in officers.

“I have ... noticed, even in contact with those officers and support staff not in the front line, small but significant changes in personality and outlook.

“None of us should be surprised by that. For many priorities have been reviewed and many aspects of work and life have taken on a new importance while others have been relegated to their proper status.

“None of us is ever likely to forget what happened in Soham. Nor should we.”

* Holly and Jessica, both 10, vanished in early August after being seen walking near their homes in Soham. Their bodies were found two weeks later.

Ian Huntley, a former caretaker at Soham Village College, is accused of murdering the girls and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

His girlfriend, Maxine Carr, a former teaching assistant in Holly and Jessica’s class, is accused of perverting the course of justice.

Both are awaiting trial at the Old Bailey.