Cheshire Police, the force that led the investigation into convicted neonatal nurse Lucy Letby, has today issued a forceful condemnation of what it describes as 'misinformation' and 'baseless claims' circulating about their handling of the case. This comes in direct response to criticism from veteran Conservative MP Sir David Davis, who yesterday accused the force of 'serious professional failings' during a parliamentary debate.
Parliamentary Accusations and Police Rebuttal
Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Sir David Davis, who has served as MP for Haltemprice and Howden since 1987, controversially branded Letby's conviction a 'miscarriage of justice'. He alleged multiple 'failures of expertise' from both Cheshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), claiming the investigation failed to follow 'all reasonable lines of inquiry' or adhere to 'the letter of the law or best professional practice'.
The former Brexit Secretary further accused both authorities of ignoring advice to draw witnesses from a panel of independent experts for Letby's trial. He announced his intention to write to the Director of Public Prosecutions requesting a formal review of how the case was handled.
Forceful Police Response
In a strongly-worded statement released today, Cheshire Police 'strongly refuted' all points made during the parliamentary debate. A spokesperson declared: "It implied impropriety on the part of Cheshire Constabulary where none whatsoever has been established. We remain confident in the integrity of the investigation, the conduct of the prosecution, and the decisions reached by the courts."
The force specifically targeted what it called 'a core group of individuals' campaigning on behalf of Letby, accusing them of 'attempting to destroy reputations' through spreading misinformation. The statement warned that 'constant noise' and 'inaccurate or partial' claims risked undermining public confidence not only in this specific case but in the entire criminal justice system.
The Letby Case Background
Lucy Letby, 36, formerly a nurse on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more over two separate trials at Manchester Crown Court. She received a record 15 whole life terms for her crimes but has consistently maintained her innocence throughout.
Despite two rejected bids to challenge her convictions, Letby's new legal team has recently submitted reports from fresh medical experts to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. This independent body reviews potential miscarriages of justice, with her representatives hoping to secure a third appeal hearing before Court of Appeal judges.
Wider Concerns About Justice System Confidence
Cheshire Police emphasized that while scrutiny of policing is "legitimate and welcome," such examination must be "grounded in fact" and should not "inadvertently cut across due process, ongoing legal considerations, or the independence of the judiciary."
The force statement continued: "Public confidence is best served by evidence-based discussion and responsible commentary – not ill-informed personal opinions and inaccurate details. Our thoughts remain with the families of the babies – who have always been at the heart of this case."
Government and Prosecution Service Responses
Responding to Sir David Davis in the Commons, Policing Minister Sarah Jones cautioned that MPs need to be "very careful to avoid implying impropriety where none has actually been established." She highlighted that "there has been a proper process involving independent assessment by the CPS, trial by a jury, and two appeal processes that has resulted in the conviction and imprisonment of Lucy Letby."
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson reinforced this position, noting: "Lucy Letby was convicted of 15 separate counts following two jury trials. In May 2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed Letby’s leave to appeal on all grounds – rejecting her argument that expert prosecution evidence was flawed."
The CPS also confirmed that in January, after reviewing additional files of evidence submitted by Cheshire Constabulary regarding alleged offences involving two infants who died and seven who survived, they concluded the evidential test was not met in any of these cases and would not be bringing further charges against Letby.
