Tell me your thoughts on cold case reviews of murders that are more than 1/2 a century old

[collectingcpd]

There have been 2 reports in the last 48hrs on BBC news about cold case reviews on child murders carried out 60 and 50 years ago. I’m prepared to be told I’m wrong, but I think this is a bit of a waste of scarce police money. If they haven’t found the killer in 50 years, they are unlikely to find him now (although I appreciate there are rare exceptions).The killer is probably dead. If he or she isn’t dead they obviously haven’t turned into a serial killer, so aren’t a significant risk to the public and we’ve already missed the opportunity to serve justice as they will have lived almost their whole lives as a free person. The parents of the child are dead, so they won’t see justice served or get closure, and I simply don’t believe one quote that says ‘a shadow will hang over this valley until justice is served’, how? As I said, I’m happy to be told why my views are wrong, with some explanation, but I think that police money would be better spent on crime prevention now, than trying to solve a case that in all likelihood is never going to be solved, and is going to be if no benefit to anyone living.

I agree with you OP. The police are massively overstretched as it is and could do more to actually prevent crime happening in the first place if they had the time, money or resources to do more. Like you say, the perpetrator (if they're even alive) is unlikely to still be dangerous 50 years on. However I suppose you could say that solving a few of these crimes could act as a preventative measure as a person would be aware they could be caught any day for the rest of their life if they commit a dangerous crime.

I would think that resources used on cold cases would be much less as all the standard investigating has been done? I would assume costs would be DNA testing, people manning communication lines waiting for tips from appeals and actually reviewing the case.

Yes it does stand you aside from an awful lot of other people. I can see where you're coming from with limited resources but they don't set active officers to work on cold cases as a general rule, it really is retired officers or those close to retirement

You saying you would turn down your own child being searched for and the crime investigated after a period of time is very much the opposite of what most parents would do. Do you have kids? Or maybe a set and rigid way of seeing things? It's just rather an unusual viewpoint

super I have kids. I also have many unusual viewpoints....I usually keep them to myself. At least I have insight

Yes, the 50th year 'anniversary' recently in the news (April 9th) was April Fabb. Just disappeared off a country lane linking two villages.
Very similar to the disappearance of Geanette Tate.

There are two separate issues here.

1)The police should always strive to solve murders. Some one may have been wrongly convicted and it’s exonorates their name of justice is finally done when/if a murder is solved. That’s why there is no time limit on murder.

2. Regardless if there is limited funds because of government cutback, you still have to adhere to good practice. You can’t keep on scaling back and running off a skeleton frame work and expecting the public to accept the cuts.

It really doesn’t help when the public actually start saying ‘we shouldn’t do that because it cuts/limited funds’.... that’s actually doing the governments dirty work for them!

What we should be saying is ‘find the money’

I actually agree with you Op - with limited resources then difficult prioritisation decisions must take place. However I probably also have unpopular opinions as constantly raking over things that happened decades ago bothers me greatly.

OP you say the murderer obviously didn't turn into a serial killer, but this isn't necessarily the case. April Fabb and Gennette Tate's disappearances have widely been linked (though nothing has ever been proven) to the modus operandi of serial killer Robert Black, who was finally caught in 1990. It is also believed that Peter Tobin, who was caught after the murder of Angelika Kluk in 2006, could be Bible John, who was operating 40 years earlier.

I recently saw a documentary on the BBC about a man who committed two murders at the age of 14, and is suspected to have committeed a series of unsolved murders after his release from prison.

A girl from my school was killed 40 yrs ago and her murderer was found and charged 2 yrs ago thanks to DNA.

Her case had always been kept open and the police got their lucky break.

I am glad justice was served.

You would honestly rather the money was spent on a deprived inner city area than looking for your child?

It depends how much police time/ resources are used. It's hard to give an opinion without knowing this.

Yes if it's a straight choice between investigating more recent violent crimes or historical ones I would prioritise more recent ones, as the criminal is more likely to act again, and the investigation is more likely to yield a result.

However I imagine that unsuccessful cold cases only use a very small amount of police resources.

If a new lead in a cold case yields a result then I would call that a good use of police time. If there are no new leads, I think that the resources used would be small and not jeopardise other cases.

So I doubt that unsuccessful cold cases distract from more current cases. Maybe a MNer who works in the police can comment on this.

I do think it's a good thing to consider how scarce resources are used. Sadly our public services are very stretched and we do need to make difficult decisions, until funding and staff are increased.

You should listen to the podcast from ipm called who killed Elsie Frost. If it hasnt happened to you then this may help you understand the depth of feeling of her surviving siblings and what a resolution would mean to them.

@hopeless it’s a separate department and funding, my uncle with 30 years DC experience went back as a civilian investigator for the Met.

Well the East Area rapist first struck in 1974, ok, not quite 50 years but not too far off and they have made an arrest.
Do you think they should let him go despite the terror and subsequent murders he did because it was awhile ago,?

All murder victims deserve justice and the families closure. Just because the parents may not be alive to see it they'll more likely to other relatives who are. The not knowing must be the worst feeling in the world and the fact cold cases are getting solved must create some hope for those who are still waiting for answers.
If there is a break though makes no sense to not follow it through.

OP I suspect that if you got to read the family impact statements then you would change your mind quite considerably.
As a PP pointed out the murder of Keith Bennett is a prime example. Winnie went to her grave longing to find her son. Now her family continue that fight for her. They deserve answers.

@Guylian2019 how exactly do you prevent a murder from being committed in the first place?

For a gangland killing of a 50 year old - yanbu. For a murder of a child - one with parents and siblings likely alive, not to mention the perpetrator and also other innocent people who may have lived their lives under a shadow of suspicion - then you are vvu.

This is what austerity does to people, makes you feel like there has to be a choice between two things that should both be happening. We can prevent knife crimes and try to find some justice for murdered kids.

@Villanellesproudmum you mean like in New Tricks? Awesome!

@redexpat Elsie Frost was the case I mentioned earlier, i walk past the spot she was found often and it is so sad to think that nobody has ever been convicted.

Dh's grandfather was killed in the Troubles. No one was prosecuted for his death but despite the fact that it's over 40 years ago, his family are still dealing with the ripples. It's tainted his family if that makes sense, altered attitudes and the generations which came afterwards are still haunted by him (and the projections of him).

Based on that, I think as long as there are those alive who are still suffering from the lack of answers, then they should be investigated wherever possible. I know my MiL would love to know who even though it wouldn't change anything.

I think that they should be investigated. A lady was killed over the road from us when I was 8 (in 1986) and her murderer was never found. The investigation was a massive part of our childhood and I still hope they find her killer.

If scene of the crime DNA exists we’ll see a lot more cold cases solved in the future, that’s what’s happening in the USA currently.

There's lots I wouldn't spend money on, I wouldn't keep reviving my Nan from her latest chest infection and pumping her full of antibiotics and hospital stays when she has is 98 and had no quality of life for at least ten years. I wouldn't spend billions making a journey from London to Manchester slightly quicker. I wouldn't spend millions buying support in parliament. However I think it is important to investigate old cases using new techniques. The murder could easily be in his/hers early 70's and still living a wonderful life they deserve to be in prison.

Yes I was wrong about age of parents. But parents with a child murdered 50 years ago could easily still be alive and in their seventies.
I actually like that elderly men who think they got away with murder,are being caught through dna.
And the truth is lots of government money is wasted on vanity projects. This sort of thing is small fry money wise. It is not where cuts should happen.
There is also sometimes someone local who has long been suspected by the community of higher profile murders. Until peter robins name was made public, a local man to me was suspected by many of being bible john. He had been extensively questioned about the murders. These people and their families also deserve to be proven innocent if they are not guilty.