Huntley inquiry ends
The Bichard inquiry into how child murderer Ian Huntley got a job as a school caretaker is set to end today.
David Blunkett ordered the inquiry after details emerged about Huntley’s past – he had previously been accused of sex with underage girls as well as rape.
Mere months after being appointed to Soham Village College he murdered schoolgirls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells. He is currently serving two life sentences for the crime.
The inquiry has been chaired by former senior civil servant Sir Michael Bichard. His report is expect by the Home Office by May, but no date has been fixed for its publication. After two months of hearings the probe heard evidence from social workers, police and other officials as to how Huntley dodged police checks to become a school caretaker despite a string of previous sex allegations against him.
Many admitted to making mistakes, including the chief constables of Humberside and Cambridgeshire police forces, as well as the headteacher of the school where Huntley worked.
At the time checks on Huntley showed no trace of the previous accusations, which included eight sexual offences.
