Independent Review into Daniel Morgan’s Murder

After an 18 year battle, the family of Daniel Morgan look poised to win an independent review into the circumstances surrounding his murder in South East London in 1987. The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) look set to authorise the independent review at its meeting on Thursday 27th October. This follows the tabling of an Early Day Motion by Emily Thornberry MP, which calls for such a review. There have also been a series of meetings between the Chair of the MPA, Jennette Arnold and the family’s MPs. Alistair Morgan, Daniel’s brother, is one of Emily’s constituents.

Emily Thornberry MP said:

‘I am glad that an independent investigation will take place into the tragic death of Daniel Morgan. This will allow for an independent barrister to look at the circumstances of Daniel’s death and reach a conclusion. There are numerous questions that must be answered and no one has been tried or convicted of Daniel’s murder. Daniel’s family have been waiting over 15 years to get to the truth of what happened and I hope that this review  will help achieve that. I would also like to thank the MPA chair, Len Duvall, and London Assembly Member Jennette Arnold for working so hard to bring this review about.’

In March 1987, private investigator Daniel Morgan was brutally axed to death in the car park of a south London pub. At an inquest in April 1988, allegations were made under oath that Daniel’s murder was arranged and covered up with the help of serving Metropolitan Police officers. In the weeks before his murder, Daniel had repeatedly expressed concerns about corrupt police officers in south London. Four police inquiries – the latest ending in September 2003 - have failed to resolve this case. No one has ever stood trial for Daniel’s murder.
The Chair of the MPA, Len Duvall, is supporting an independent review. The MPA would require the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to submit a Report on the murder of Daniel Morgan and the subsequent investigations by January 2006. The Report would be public and would be shared with the Morgan family so their comments can be obtained.
The MPA will then engage a barrister to independently review all the case papers in relation to the murder and all subsequent investigations. The barrister would be asked to produce a comprehensive appraisal of the several investigations and the various decisions by police and prosecuting authorities and to comment generally on the conduct of the investigations. This review would be conducted wholly in private but the QC’s report would be made available to the family of the deceased.

Editors Notes:

1.  Death of Daniel Morgan

That this House welcomes the report by the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) for the MPA's Full Authority meeting on Thursday 27th October, recommending an independent review into the murder of Daniel Morgan in South East London in 1987; notes that after 18 years and four separate police investigations, no individual has been tried or convicted of the crime; regrets that the police investigations have failed to make up for the serious failings of the initial investigations in 1987/88 and 1988/89; expresses deep concern that the central allegations have not been addressed or resolved by any of the four investigations, namely that police officers were involved in the crime and conspired to frustrate the initial investigation; believes that the resolution of these questions are matters of concern not only to the family but to the police service and the wider public; and therefore calls upon the MPA and the Government to support an independent review into the circumstances of Daniel Morgan’s murder and the allegations of police involvement that have arisen from it.

2. The report for the MPA Full Authority meeting on Thursday 27th October can be accessed here: http://www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2005/051027/10.htm

3. More information on the Daniel Morgan’s murder can be found at http://www.justice4daniel.org/. The website is run by Alistair Morgan, who is Daniel’s older brother.