The police watchdog will investigate whether the inquiry into the 1992 murder of Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan missed opportunities to identify her killer sooner.
It was only last year, 31 years after the event, that David Boyd, 55, was finally convicted of murdering the seven-year-old in a derelict basement in the city's East End.
Northumbria Police’s initial probe saw innocent man George Heron go on trial before he was cleared in 1993.
Nikki’s mother, Sharon Henderson, never gave up her fight for justice, made her own investigations and repeatedly called on the force to reopen the inquiry.
Following a DNA breakthrough and painstaking police work, Boyd was arrested and was convicted of Nikki’s murder at Newcastle Crown Court in May, and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 29 years.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating two complaints.
It will look at the actions and decision-making of police involved in the murder investigation and a subsequent homicide review.
This will include the identification and elimination of suspects during the original investigation, as well as whether there were missed opportunities to identify Boyd using DNA analysis sooner, the watchdog said.
Northumbria Police said it would cooperate fully with the investigation.
IOPC regional director Emily Barry said: “My sincere sympathies are with Nikki’s family, who have lost a loved one in such horrific circumstances and then endured a 30-year wait to see justice served.
“Our investigation, which will be carried out independently of police, will be thorough and ensure the actions of police are thoroughly scrutinised.
“This is a complex and challenging case, not least because the passage of time means some of those involved in the original police investigation have since retired, but we will use all the resources available to us to ensure the family’s concerns are carefully investigated.
“We have been in contact with Nikki’s family to explain our role and will provide them with regular updates throughout our investigation.
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“Our thoughts remain with all those affected by Nikki’s death.”
Speaking in May last year after Boyd was found guilty, police on the case told the media they were "truly sorry" it took 30 years to get justice.
Northumbria Police Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Simpson told reporters: “I am truly sorry for the mistakes that were made in the 1992 investigation and I’m sorry for the length of time it has taken to get justice for the family.
“I can’t imagine the impact on them over the course of the last 30 years so I have offered to meet with Sharon and with other members of the family, and I will be happy to say that to them when I meet.”
But the apology was knocked back by Nikki's mum Sharon who said she should have been visited personally by a senior officer rather than hearing of their apology through the media.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said on Tuesday (January 16): “Our thoughts very much continue to be with Nikki Allan’s loved ones and we recognise the strength they have shown throughout their wait for justice.
“We can confirm that after receiving two complaints in relation to the investigation surrounding Nikki’s murder, we referred these to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
“We will be cooperating fully with their subsequent investigation and while this is being conducted it would be inappropriate to comment any further.”
Boyd was the boyfriend of Nikki’s babysitter, lived in the same block of flats as her and told officers he had seen her on the night she disappeared.
He was never treated as a suspect, even after he was convicted of a child sex offence in the late 1990s, and remained at large until the DNA breakthrough in 2017.
After the jury convicted Boyd, Northumbria Police apologised to Ms Henderson, as well as to Mr Heron, who had to leave Sunderland despite being cleared in 1993.
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