It was revealed today that the family of Daniel Morgan, a private detective who was murdered by police officers, plans to sue Metropolitan Police.
Family members of the PI were found in a carpark in south London with an axe in their heads in 1987. They allege that there was no follow-up action to a bombshell investigation earlier in the year which accused the force institutionalized corruption in its handling of the case.
It follows the June damaging independent report which found Scotland Yard had covered up or denied any of its shortcomings in the investigation. This was the first goal of the force, it said, to protect itself.
Independent panel found that Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick had hindered their work and apologised.
She rejected Mr Morgan’s claims that the force is ‘institutionally corrupted’, and he called for her resignation.
Morgan’s family now claims that Scotland Yard did not respond to the 1,250 pages report.
They claim they’re unable to trust the police anymore and now want damages.
The force claims that a “dedicated team” has been established to review the implications of the report. They plan to present their progress to Priti Patel, Home Secretary in spring 2013.
Daniel Morgan’s family (pictured), was discovered in London with an axe in the head by a carpark keeper in 1987. They claim that there have been no follow-up actions on the bombshell report from earlier in the year, which accused the force institutionalised corruption in its handling of the case.
Independent panel found that Commissioner Dame Cressida (pictured), had hindered their work and apologised.
Morgan family members now claim Scotland Yard did not respond to the 1,250 pages report. They are now declaring that they cannot trust the Met and setting up a civil suit against them for damages
Raju Bhatt who is the solicitor for the Morgan family, stated to the BBC that the civil case alleged misconduct in public office and violations of the Human Rights Act.
He stated that Dame Cressida would become a defendant in civil claims, which cover a time period starting with Morgan’s 1987 death and ending in today.
Mr Bhatt stated that the claim involved deliberate abuse or poor faith in exercising power by any officer in the crown, with either knowledge or reckless indifference as to the consequences.
‘The repeated failure over decades to confront … corruption includes the obstruction of the independent panel’s work and the response of the Met to that panel’s findings.’
According to the family, they expressed their sadness at having been “let down again” by everyone.
Private detective Mr Morgan was attacked and killed in Sydenham’s carpark at the Golden Lion in Sydenham in south-east 1987 while he looked into the eyes of bent cops.
Five police investigations later, nobody has been found guilty of the death of the father-of-two aged 37.
In June, an investigation revealed that Mr Morgan was a victim of bribery by officers selling lucrative information to criminals.
It was even claimed that officers weren’t paid to arrest criminals under the control of their superiors. This demand included 10 percent each month for overtime and expenses payments.
The report claimed that bent cops might have stopped the investigation into the death of Mr Morgan because they ‘thought their pensions and police careers were at risk’ and that future, lucrative corruption would stop.
According to the report, there were not many photos of crime scene. The Met stated that they could not find any.
The report stated that many exhibits taken during investigation had no evidence of continuity and that the lines of inquiry were not properly followed.
The report also said obstructive behaviour by the force had dragged an inquiry expected to take 12 months out to eight years – at a cost to the taxpayer of £16million.
It condemned the force’s’systemic weaknesses’ which included widespread institutional corruption.
After the release of this report, Mr Morgan’s family called upon Dame Cressida for her resignation.
Morgan was attacked with an axe and killed outside Sydenham’s Golden Lion Pub in south London.
As Assistant Commissioner at the time, Dame Cressida was criticised for refusing to give access to HOLMES (an internal police database system) which included the most sensitive information about the case.
One panel member was forced to cross the capital to the Met site near East London to view files. An encrypted laptop was finally provided in September.
One Detective Constable, who was not identified, told the Panel about a routine in the famous Flying Squad. He stated that if you were posted to their Squad the first day, you’d find money inside a brown envelope at your desk. You were sent back to the position you had been in if you refused it.
This panel examined more than 110,000 pages and more secret materials. They also looked at a large amount of sensitive or classified material that police had as they investigated the case of the private detective’s murder, which occurred more than 30 years earlier.
Panelists accused the Metropolitan Police in a “form of institutional corruption” for hiding or denying failures related to the unsolved murder. They also stated that the way the case was handled means his killers are likely to escape justice.
It was discovered that the first purpose of the force was to protect itself by failing to recognize its numerous failings since the murder.
At the time the Metropolitan Police reported that they regretted that Daniel’s murder had not been tried and convicted.
It acknowledged corruption was a factor in the 1986 investigation’s failure and offered an apology to Mr Morgan’s loved ones. But, Dame Cressida rebuffed the claims that the force had been ‘institutionally corrupt.
A Met Police spokesperson said that Mr Morgan’s family had filed legal action. He told MailOnline, “We can confirm that Metropolitan Police Service received a claim letter dated 7/12/2007 and are currently reviewing its response.”
“Since Daniel Morgan Independent Panel published their report six months back, a Met dedicated team has been created and is moving to address those specific Met recommendations while also engaging with other lead organizations named in that report.
“We are committed to continuing this work, and we expect to report in full to the Mayoral Office and the Home Secretary about our progress by the spring 2022.
Independent Office for Conduct said that it is continuing to investigate the Met Police’s handling.
According to the body, it will determine whether any misconduct issues were identified in the police report of any officer named (including the Met commissioner).
Which person was responsible for the Daniel Morgan Case?
Daniel MorganPrivate investigator, who was shot and killed in Sydenham’s Golden Lion bar in Sydenham on March 10, 1987.
Jonathan Rees: In February 1989, Mr Morgan was arrested for murdering his business partner. It was finally dropped three months later. In 2008, he was later accused of murder. However, his case was dismissed in March 2011. He was later charged with murder in 2008, but the prosecution collapsed in March 2011.
Paul Goodridge: A Bodyguard, who was also indicted for murder in February 1989. Crown Prosecution Service dismissed the case. Mr Goodridge sued Hampshire Constabulary.
Jean Wisden: Mrs Goodridge’s girlfriend, charged with perverting course of justice in February 1989. CPS also dismissed the case.
Glenn and Gary Vian: The brothers-in law of Mr Rees were arrested in 2008 for murder, but the case was dropped in 2011. Following a suit against the Metropolitan Police, both were awarded damages in six figures.
Glenn Vian (left), and Garry Vian, (right).
James Cook: The builder was also accused of Mr Morgan’s 2008 murder. The prosecution collapsed in March 2011 due to police failures to disclose evidence or handle key witnesses.
Kevin Lennon: Former Bookkeeper for Southern Investigations. This is the company that Jonathan Rees and Mr Morgan co-founded. Police were told by Mr Lennon that Mr Rees said to him, “I have the perfect solution for Daniel’s murder. My mates at Catford Nick will arrange it.” It was believed that this meant that Mr Rees knew Catford police officers and would ensure that Rees was not captured. There was insufficient evidence to support police involvement in the murder of Mr Morgan, according to the panel.
Sid FilleryA former police officer was accused of perverting justice. This happened in 2008 before the case fell apart in 2011. According to the report, Mr Fillery was found to have joined Southern Investigations following Mr Morgan’s death and drank with officers after they were made suspects in the murder investigation.
David CookNews of the World journalist placed senior investigator under surveillance. However, he was criticised because he was allowed to “act freely in contravention of many existing procedures and practices in breach of [his] duties as police officers”.
Alastair Morgan: The brother of Mr Morgan, who has fought for justice for over a long-running case that is Scotland Yard’s coldest.
Priti PatelAfter a dispute over publication of the original May report, the Home Secretary has been criticised. Panel members expressed disappointment at the length of time she took to publish her report. Ms. Patel stated today that there are still questions about whether the Independent Office for Police Conduct can hold the police accountable.
Baroness Nuala L’OanA former Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, who presided over the most recent independent inquiry. It reported back to her today after eight years. She said: ‘Concealing or denying failings for the sake of an organisation’s public image is dishonesty on the part of the organisation for reputational benefit, and constitutes a form of institutional corruption.’