The Report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel The Report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel June 2021 Volume 2 HC 11-II Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 15th June 2021 for The Report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel Volume 2 Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 15th June 2021 HC 11-II © Crown copyright 2021 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is available at www.gov.uk/official-documents. Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at [email protected]. ISBN 978-1-5286-2479-4 Volume 2 of 3 CCS0220047602 06/21 Printed on paper containing 75% recycled fibre content minimum Printed in the UK by the APS Group on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office Contents Volume 2 Chapter 5: The 2000 Murder Review: The Cold Case Review of the Investigation into Daniel Morgan’s Murder 443 Chapter 6: Abelard One/Morgan Two Investigation 475 Chapter 7: The 2006 Report from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service to the Metropolitan Police Authority (‘the 2006 Report’) 603 Chapter 8: The Abelard Two Investigation 647 Chapter 5: The 2000 Murder Review: The Cold Case Review of the Investigation into Daniel Morgan’s Murder Contents 1 Introduction 2 Background to the 2000 Murder Review 3 The Terms of Reference of the 2000 Murder Review 4 The 2000 Murder Review Report: methodology 5 Findings of the 2000 Murder Review Report 6 Family liaison 7 The 2000 Murder Review’s recommendations 8 The Metropolitan Police response to the 2000 Murder Review Report 1 Introduction 1. Today it is routine for unsolved murders, or cold cases, to be reviewed periodically, to explore whether new evidential opportunities exist which justify reopening the investigation. This was less the case prior to the millennium. However, in 1998 the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Crime Committee issued revised guidelines for the review of cold cases. Further to the guidelines, the Metropolitan Police determined that all undetected murders committed since 1997 should be reviewed, as well as, exceptionally, some murders committed before 1997. The murder of Daniel Morgan in 1987 was judged an exceptional case and was the first pre-1997 murder to be reviewed according to the new procedure. 2. In June 2000, a review of the investigation into the murder of Daniel Morgan commenced, undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Murder Review Group. DI Steve Hagger, assisted by two other officers, worked solely on the records generated by the two previous police investigations (Morgan One and Hampshire/Police Complaints Authority), as well as relevant intelligence 443 The Report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel arising from other police operations (principally Operation Nigeria/Two Bridges). Their review was purely documentary: they did not interview officers previously involved in the case, nor did they contact Daniel Morgan’s family. They did not work on any other matter at this time. 3. The Panel refers to the review, here and elsewhere in our Report, as ‘the 2000 Murder Review’. DI Steve Hagger completed his 86-page Murder Review Report in October 2000. The Report contained 83 recommendations and, in addition, identified 22 considerations, or lines of enquiry, that a future investigation might consider. It was on the basis of this Murder Review Report, together with representations from other sources, that in 2001 the third investigation into Daniel Morgan’s murder (Abelard One/Morgan Two) was mounted. 1.1 Chronology of key events relating to the 2000 Murder Review • Autumn 1998 Introduction of the Murder Investigation Manual by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the ACPO Crime Committee ‘Revised Guidelines for Major Crime Reviews’. • 24 September 1999 During the course of Operation Nigeria/Two Bridges, 11 suspects were arrested in connection with offences centred on a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. • 03 November 1999 DI Michael Gates, who had worked on Operation Nigeria/Two Bridges, was instructed to review the information gained from that operation relating to the murder of Daniel Morgan, to ascertain if there was new evidence. • 16 November 1999 D/Supt Robert Quick wrote to DCI Barry Nicholson requesting a report cataloguing developments during Operation Nigeria/Two Bridges and providing an analysis of any new investigative opportunities. • 02 February 2000 DI Michael Gates produced a report summarising five pieces of intelligence originating from Operation Nigeria/Two Bridges. • 03 February 2000 Upon receipt of DI Michael Gates’ report, DCI Barry Nicholson wrote to DAC Roy Clark, stating that ‘it may now be appropriate for consideration to be given, to appointing a Murder Review Team’. • 03 February 2000 DCS David Wood forwarded DI Michael Gates’ report to Commander Andrew Hayman. In his accompanying note, DCS Wood stated his agreement that the murder should be reviewed. • 23 May 2000 DCI Barry Nicholson briefed DCS Barry Webb, first Head of the Murder Review Group, on the intelligence contained in DI Gates’ report. As a result of that briefing, DCS Webb agreed to review the murder of Daniel Morgan. • 26 June 2000 DI Steve Hagger was appointed to conduct the 2000 Murder Review under the Terms of Reference laid down by DCS Barry Webb. • 06 October 2000 The review was completed, and the 2000 Murder Review Report was produced by DI Steve Hagger. • 14 November 2000 DI Steve Hagger presented the 2000 Murder Review Report to senior officers, and a re-investigation was agreed. 444 Chapter 5: The 2000 Murder Review: The Cold Case Review of the Investigation into Daniel Morgan’s Murder • February 2001 As a result of the 2000 Murder Review Report, the Abelard One/ Morgan Two Investigation was established (see Chapter 6, The Abelard One/Morgan Two Investigation). Officers of significance in the 2000 Murder Review, in order of rank • Deputy Assistant Commissioner Roy Clark • Detective Chief Superintendent Barry Webb • Detective Inspector Steve Hagger 2 Background to the 2000 Murder Review 4. In 1998, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) introduced two policy documents, both of which included reference to the cold case review of murder investigations. The ‘Murder Investigation Manual’, introduced in September 1998, stated that ‘it is good practice to periodically review undetected murder cases. It is suggested this is undertaken at least every two years.’1 5. The other policy document, the ACPO Crime Committee’s ‘Revised Guidelines for Major Crime Reviews’, stated that: ‘[t]he objective of any review is to constructively evaluate the conduct of an investigation to ensure: • It conforms to nationally approved standards; • It is thorough; • It has been conducted with integrity and objectivity; • That no investigative opportunities have been overlooked; • That good practice is identified.’2 6. The purpose of such cold case reviews was to be of assistance to the police, primarily by checking the work undertaken and by recommending lines of enquiry. The Metropolitan Police Special Notice 6/99, dated March 1999, stated the following: ‘It is important to stress that there is an absolute need for a review to be carried out in a spirit of co-operation between the reviewing officer and the SIO [Senior Investigating Officer]. The review should always be regarded by an SIO as being of assistance and support to the investigation.’3 1 Association of Chief Police Officers, ‘Murder Investigation Manual’, MPS109705001, p247, September 1998. 2 Association of Chief Police Officers, ‘Murder Investigation Manual’, MPS094339001, p229, 2006. 3 Special Notice 6/99, MPS107551001, p15, 31 March 1999. 445 The Report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel 7. The Metropolitan Police Special Notice 6/99 further stated that: ‘[u]ndertaking a cold case review on all existing unsolved murders will not be practical. The cold-case review procedure will apply to all undetected murders committed after Wednesday 1 January 1997. Consideration should be given to reviewing older cases as workload permits.’4 2.1 Operation Nigeria/Two Bridges draws to a close 8. In September 1999, Operation Nigeria/Two Bridges, which had focused on links between corrupt police officers and Law & Commercial (formerly Southern Investigations, the business that had been managed jointly by Jonathan Rees and Daniel Morgan), led to a number of arrests. On 24 September, 11 people were arrested in connection with offences centred on a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice (see Chapter 4, Operation Nigeria/Two Bridges). Officers continued to receive information relevant to Operation Nigeria/Two Bridges after the arrests. 9. Further to requests from Daniel Morgan’s brother, Alastair Morgan, in September and October 1999, both Richard Livsey MP5 and Chris Smith MP6 wrote to DAC Roy Clark, who had led the operation, seeking information as to whether evidence gathered had been assessed in relation to the murder of Daniel Morgan. DAC Clark replied in similar terms to both letters.7,8 In his letter to Richard Livsey MP, he said the following (emphasis in original): ‘I also indicated [to Alastair MORGAN and Isobel HÜLSMANN, Daniel MORGAN’s mother] that we have not yet uncovered any additional evidence that would justify the arrest and charge of any person for the murder of Daniel MORGAN. However, our enquiries remain very active, are ongoing and involve many investigating officers.’9 10. It was inaccurate of DAC Roy Clark to describe ongoing enquiries into Daniel Morgan’s murder as ‘very active’ and involving ‘many investigating officers’.