Police handling of Peter Chapman referred to IPCC (From The Northern Echo)

Police handling of Peter Chapman referred to IPCC

1:11pm Tuesday 9th March 2010 in Ashleigh Hall Trial

THE police force monitoring serial sex attacker Peter Chapman before he fled to kidnap, rape and murder Ashleigh Hall has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, it said today.

Merseyside Police were meant to be keeping tabs on Chapman.

But after realising he had vanished from his Kirkby home early last year, they left it nine months before issuing a national wanted alert.

Today, a spokesman said: "Merseyside Police can confirm that an internal review was carried out following the arrest of Peter Chapman in October last year.

"Following the review, a number of procedural improvements were identified and subsequently implemented.

"However, in view of the public interest and concerns raised following the conviction of Peter Chapman and to ensure complete transparency in terms of this particular matter, the force has referred it to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."