Ex-police officer investigated over Malkinson case

A retired constabulary serviceman is nether a transgression probe implicit the wrongful condemnation of Andy Malkinson for a rape helium did not commit, the constabulary watchdog has said.

The erstwhile Greater Manchester Police serviceman is being investigated for allegedly perverting the people of justness and misconduct successful nationalist bureau successful narration to Mr Malkinson’s proceedings 20 years ago, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

The erstwhile serviceman and 3 different officers, who are besides retired, are besides being investigated for alleged gross misconduct.

Mr Malkinson was exonerated past twelvemonth aft suffering the longest miscarriage of justness of the 21st century.

Mr Malkinson said helium felt vindicated by the IOPC probe but helium would "not beryllium satisfied until officers look existent consequences".

"If Greater Manchester Police get distant with what they did to me, they'll support doing it. It's arsenic elemental arsenic that," helium said.

Judges astatine the Court of Appeal were told of long-undisclosed DNA grounds that showed different antheral indispensable person been the rapist successful an onslaught connected a pistillate successful 2003.

No forensic grounds ever linked Mr Malkinson to the unfortunate and helium did not carnivore a facial wounded that she had inflicted upon her attacker arsenic she fought to support herself.

He did not look similar her archetypal statement of the rapist and determination was nary grounds to nexus him to the secluded country of the crime, adjacent Bolton.

Mr Malkinson spent 17 years successful jailhouse protesting his innocence and a large judge-led enquiry is continuing into however the incorrect antheral was convicted.

The determination to analyse the 4 officers comes aft the IOPC took implicit a reappraisal into however GMP had itself handled complaints from Mr Malkinson.

An IOPC connection said that it was looking astatine however GMP came to place Mr Malkinson arsenic the cardinal fishy and whether witnesses had been offered incentives to prime him out.

The watchdog said it was besides investigating whether determination had been a nonaccomplishment to disclose accusation that whitethorn person helped Mr Malkinson astatine his proceedings and it was besides looking astatine whether officers followed the “appropriate processes” successful however Mr Malkinson had been identified.

The watchdog said it was besides investigating however GMP handled and disposed of evidence.

During Mr Malkinson’s palmy entreaty past year, it emerged that the archetypal DNA samples recovered from the unfortunate and her covering had been destroyed.

Catherine Bates, IOPC Regional Director, said: “Mr Malkinson is simply a unfortunate of 1 of the worst miscarriages of justness successful British history.

“Following a elaborate reappraisal of grounds spanning a play of much than 20 years, we person present informed 4 retired GMP officers that they are nether probe for imaginable gross misconduct.

“One of the officers has besides been notified that they are nether transgression probe for imaginable misconduct successful nationalist bureau and perverting the people of justness successful narration to their actions during the constabulary probe and consequent trial.

“We volition proceed to support Mr Malkinson and GMP updated connected our progress.”

Emily Bolton, Mr Malkinson's lawyer astatine the ineligible foundation APPEAL, welcomed the IOPC’s determination to proceed its investigation.

"Andy's wrongful imprisonment was not an unavoidable accident,” she said.

“Police accountability isn't optional - it's essential. Andy, his family, and the rape unfortunate successful this lawsuit each merit justice."