Family of Rachel Nickell may sue police

Scotland Yard detectives who left psychopath Robert Napper free to kill Rachel Nickell could face private legal action by her former partner, it was revealed last night.

Andre Hanscombe is considering bringing a civil case against senior investigators identified as making a "catalogue of bad decisions and errors" by a police watchdog.

His solicitor Kate Maynard said Mr Hanscombe was also looking at whether to lobby Home Secretary Theresa May for a public inquiry that would have the power to summon the retired officers to give evidence.

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She said Mr Hanscombe and the couple's son Alex wanted to do everything they could to hold to account those responsible for errors that led to the deaths of Miss Nickell, Samantha Bisset and her young daughter Jazmine.

A report published by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) yesterday said Metropolitan Police officers missed a series of opportunities to take Napper off the streets.

Officials said police blunders left Napper free to attack Miss Nickell, the Bissets and an unknown number of women who were raped and sexually assaulted as Napper stalked south London parks.

They also highlighted how police delayed bringing Napper to justice for Miss Nickell's death by falsely accusing Colin Stagg, despite mounting evidence he was not responsible.

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They said police had even ignored a telephone call from his mother in 1989 after she phoned her local station to report that he had confessed to raping a woman on Plumstead Common.

In October 1995, Napper was convicted of killing the Bissets and was detained indefinitely at Broadmoor for the deaths and several sex attacks.

He admitted killing Miss Nickell on the grounds of diminished responsibility at the Old Bailey in 2008 after forensic experts found his DNA on fibres taken from her body.

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