Huntley offence 'recorded two years late'

An alleged offence against Ian Huntley was recorded on Britain's Police National Computer two years late, the Soham inquiry heard today.

Details of an alleged burglary involving Huntley should have been put on the PNC by Humberside Police in March 1996 but was not submitted until May 1998.

A senior officer from the unit responsible for filing the details today admitted that was against force policy but could not explain the delay.

Chief Inspector Colin Carroll revealed the delay as he gave evidence to the Inquiry in London today.

The inquiry is investigating flaws in vetting procedures and police intelligence handling which allowed Huntley to get a caretaker job at Soham Village College.

It was while at the Cambridgeshire school that Huntley abducted and murdered Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in August 2002.

A string of allegations in Huntley’s past, including four suspected rapes, an indecent assault and four allegations of underage sex, only emerged after his conviction for the double murder last year.

Chief Insp Carroll was speaking for Humberside’s Administration of Justice Unit (AJU) – one of the teams responsible for inputting details to the PNC.

The inquiry heard Huntley was reported for a summons in relation to the suspected burglary in March 1996 and that should have been inputted then.

The case was eventually left to “lie on file” and it was only after that decision was taken that the entry was made on the PNC – in May 1998.

Junior counsel to the inquiry Kate Gallafent asked: “Can you offer an explanation for the delay?”

The officer said: “At the time of the contacts with Ian Huntley, Grimsby (inputters) were recording a summons offence at the point of result rather than the point of summons.”

Ms Gallafent added: “Is it fair to say that according to force policy an entry should have been made at the time the summons was issued but the input was not made until the conclusion and result.

“And that is something Humberside Police is taking steps to remedy that.”

Chief Insp Carroll said: “Indeed. We are now working on a number of processes.”

The hearing was also told that details of Huntley being charged with an alleged rape in May 1998 were not submitted to the PNC until the following month.

Details of Huntley being bailed in relation to an allegation of indecent assault in July 1998 were not inputted to the PNC because at the time it was not Humberside Police policy to do that.

The force changed that policy in 1999, the inquiry was told.