The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has released a report criticising Wiltshire Police for significant failures in the investigation into the murder of Becky Godden by Christopher Halliwell. The report states that opportunities to bring Halliwell to justice sooner were missed due to a poorly supervised and flawed inquiry.
Chief Constable Kier Pritchard, who was a detective chief superintendent at the time, has faced management action after the IOPC found a case for misconduct. He has apologised personally to Miss Godden's family, acknowledging the force's shortcomings compounded their pain. Wiltshire Police also issued a formal apology.
The report highlights that between 2011 and 2014, the murder inquiry lacked a senior investigating officer for over a year after Detective Steve Fulcher stepped down. Key lines of inquiry were not followed, including forensic examination of soil on a spade belonging to Halliwell, which was not tested until 2014 despite being seized in 2011. This soil matched rare soil at the burial site.
Halliwell admitted to murdering Miss Godden in 2011 while being questioned about the murder of Sian O'Callaghan. However, his confession was ruled inadmissible because he was not cautioned or offered legal representation. He was eventually convicted in 2016, five years after leading police to her body.
Karen Edwards, Miss Godden's mother, described the failings as 'unbelievable' and expressed relief at finally receiving an apology after years of campaigning. The IOPC's regional director, Catrin Evans, said the issues stemmed from systemic weaknesses and individual shortcomings within the force.
