Justice for Emma Caldwell

[ArabellaScott]

And some of the other women this bastard raped and abused.

My thoughts are with Emma's mother. Such a very long time to get justice. I hope she has some peace knowing Packer will no longer be free to harm women.

And for once, well done the BBC, whose investigation kickstarted a fresh look at the case.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-68304929

Justice done. Wishing her mother and family peace and healing. What a despicable excuse of a human being that man is. Free to terrorise women for far too many years.

Yes, I'm just reading about the outrageous first investigation. He should have been charged at the time.

The BBC podcast Who Killed Emma was excellent - I hope they can now do an update and release the series again.

I'm relieved to hear he's finally been jailed. If it weren't for the BBC, I think he'd still be free, and that's terrifying.

He should have been charged during the first investigation, and it's incredible he wasn't.

Very pleased for Emma’s mother. Around the time of her murder, there was a spate of sex workers’ murders, some of which are still unsolved. Here’s hoping the other women’s families get justice soon too. Police Scotland seem to be doing a good job with historical cases at the moment, with this and Caroline Glachan.

ArabellaScott · Today 16:31

Yes, I'm just reading about the outrageous first investigation. He should have been charged at the time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-68285168

Bloody Hell, it's like Peter Sutcliffe all over again. Why, in such cases, do the coppers responsible never see any sanction? I mean, I know that some of them have retired, but surely there's a case for misfeasance in a public office?

About time.

I'm so glad for her mother that she eventually got some justice.

However it's made me think of all the other unsolved murders where the deceased doesn't have a family to push for justice.

They just get forgotten.

There are a shocking number of unsolved murders in the uk.

I agree. Something stinks.

something went wrong back in the day. A senior officer told detective to release him… sounds like some funny handshakes went on there.

Good . May he rot. So pleased for her mum. Rest in peace Emma . That poor lassie😭. So many woman murdered on The Drag in Glasgow not taken seriously by the old Strathclyde Police .

Well done to all the brave women that came forward. None of you deserved this and you were let down appallingly by Police Scotland.

I listened to Sandy Brindley from Rape Crisis Scotland (the one that puts the rights of transwomen above the rights of women who have suffered rape)on Radio Scotland say that Police Scotland have made massive progress in the last 10-15 years in how they deal with cases like this. Really? Not sure I believe her (she didn't provide evidence to back up her point) but very happy to be proved wrong.

I'm so pleased to see this.

Agree the podcast was excellent and the journalist involved should be very proud of her role in getting justice for Emma and no doubt protecting many other women from this man in future.

Actually, Police Scotland have made brilliant progress and have an almost 100% clear up rate of murders since 2019. Hopefully, they’ll make more progress with historic cases.

At the time of her disappearance I lived near one of the last places she was seen, so I’m glad there is finally justice for her. Although, it was know for a long time who the culprit was, shame he was able to roam free and inflict more harm during that period.

But have they made massive progress in believing and taking seriously women who come forward and report sexual assault? In particular, vulnerable women who have got caught up in drugs and alcohol and are being sexually exploited? The low rate of conviction for sexual crimes would indicate that the CJS as a whole does not take women seriously.

From BBC reporting on this

When Det Con David Barr, taking the statement, asked senior officers if he could detain Packer, he was also told no.

"I'm told… when you get Iain Packer and bring him in, it doesn't matter what he tells you - he won't ever be an accused in this case," he recalled.....

....senior officers told them not to pursue Packer.

Both Stuart Hall and retired Det Con David Barr have told the BBC that the order not to detain Packer came from the inquiry's senior investigating officer, Willie Johnston.

Why was he allowed to roam free, when there was evidence in things he had told them that implicated him (in 2006 when they interviewed him)?

Why was he not ever going to be an accused? What an odd thing to say.

I can see perfectly well the police misogyny and poor treatment of all the women around the time of the 1st investigation (just like the girls in Bradford and Manchester were treated). And then these statements - just stick out like a sore thumb. Did someone high up want to protect Packer? and why?

Also why did Packer seek to do the interviews with Samantha Poling - in the end this was his downfall.

Ego?

Kudos to Samantha Poling. This is what investigative journalism is all about.
Excellent job. I listened to the podcast when it came out. Thinking of Emma, cold and alone in those dark woods, and her poor mum who lost two daughters.

Hope the 'anonymous' man who started Emma off with heroin understands the trauma he opened the door to.

It is poetic justice that it was a woman journalist who sparked further investigation that eventually saw Packer taken down for his crimes against women.

Well done all those who investigated, who did the forensics (there was bio identical mud in his van same as from the woods) and painstakingly worked to present the case. All the women who testified - your bravery won't be forgotten. And well done the Jury, pretty grim job you had there.

His eyes - just dead in those videos and photos - nothing going on behind there. Nothing good anyway.

Glad he's now locked up. Travesty it took so long.

Good result.

The police handling of this case has shown to be shocking.

I’m so pleased justice has finally come for Emma. I hope she can now rest in peace & her mother can now rest.

Well done all those strong and brave women.

i came in to start a thread and was pleased to see one.

Glad that Emma and her family got justice but her parents should not have had to fight and push as they did to make sure their daughter was not forgotten. It has taken far too long and i hope today can bring them some peace.

This is a huge miscarriage of justice for so many women.

There was over 20 brave women giving evidence and thanks to them, Packer is now facing a very lengthy sentence. there are many many more who were not part of this trial.

What happened to all those women was appalling and they were ignored, allowing his (and others) violence to continue. its fine for Police Scotland to say sorry but in reality, things havent improved that much. Sandy can say that things have got somewhat better but that is a general statement and does not apply to women in prostitution.

Women are not coming forward and reporting violence so theres alot of men out there committing violence every day, unchecked and unaccountable.

Prostitution related offenses fell by 87% from 2013 to 2023. Women in street prostitution, like Emma, are still criminalised albeit in smaller numbers. The big fall also relates to punters like Ian Packer, who are still out in numbers looking for vulnerable women. It also relates to all offenses such as pimping and brothel keeping.
Police Scotland have nothing to pat themselves on the back for in terms of how much better things are.

Is this going to help any?

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-strategic-approach-challenging-deterring-mens-demand-prostitution-supporting-recovery-sustainable-exit-those-involved-prostitution/pages/2/

sadly in truth - i think not.

no clarity, no plan, no buy in, no consultation, no resources.
same old, same old.

Women in prostitution are yet again pushed to the edges. There's far too many women like Emma still in the same situation she was.

That's a great shame, I had hoped it might have an impact.

Is there anything we can do to help prostituted women in Glasgow? I'd like to donate something in Emma's name.

Any of these organisations any use? I would like a donation to actually help, rather than just fund another quango.

https://www.womenssupportproject.org.uk/

i think Routes Out offers direct support to women and they do outreach with women in street prostitution. they might be an option?

I do wish they would stop referring to her as a sex worker. Yes she was but she was also a woman. A daughter and a sister and a friend.