Murder probe: officers suspended
A damning report into the handling of the Monckton murder inquiry has lead to the suspension of four probation officers. The Chelsea banker John Monckton was murdered just streets away from Evelyn Gardens, Imperial College Halls of Residence; Felix (1308). A government ordered inquiry, which was released on Tuesday 28 February, cited "collective failure" in the probation management of the two criminals found guilty of the murder last month.
Damien Hanson stabbed Mr Monckton to death while on early release for a previous attempted murder charge. His accomplice, Elliot White, was also on bail at the time for drug charges.
Despite a previous risk assessment, which warned Hanson had demonstrated a 91% chance of reoffending, his case was managed at the lowest risk level and he was released half-way through his 12 year sentence. In a move labelled "utterly extraordinary" by Andrew Bridges, the Chief Inspector of probation, the assailant was required to report to a probation office in a part of London that he had been excluded from. His accomplice White was also neglected by the London Probation Area who "failed repeatedly" to enforce his drug treatment and testing order.
In conclusion Mr. Bridges stated, "The mismanagement of these cases did fail to reduce the risk posed to the public by these two men", adding, "While it is not possible to eliminate risk altogether when managing an offender in the community, the public is entitled to expect authorities to do their job properly which did not happen in the cases of Hanson and White".
The inquiry was ordered by Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, after the conviction last December. Mr. Clarke described the London probation officers' handling of the pair as "unacceptable", taking responsibility for the errors in the killer's parole. He stated "my responsibility is to do whatever I can to make sure it cannot happen again."
