Met Police defends officers who failed to check Nicola Edgington's past convictions (From News Shopper)
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Met Police defends officers who failed to check Nicola Edgington's past convictions
2:40pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Alan Woods
Nicola Edgington.
THE Met police have said running Nicola Edgington’s name through the Police National Computer (PNC) would not have stopped her murderous rampage.
A report published by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) yesterday – the day Edgington was jailed for life – criticised officers who did not check whether the 32-year-old had previous convictions.
It was revealed Edgington called police on five different occasions between 4.50am and 5.30am on October 10, 2011, hours before she stabbed 58-year-old Sally Hodkin to death in Bexleyheath Broadway.
The report criticised control centre operators who did not run Edgington’s name through the PNC when she called, which would have revealed her past convictions for the manslaughter of her mother in 2006.
Met Area Commander for south east London Neil Basu said: “There has been criticism officers did not conduct a PNC check on her details, which would have identified that Edgington had been violent in the past and had a previous conviction for manslaughter.
“With the benefit of hindsight this may have assisted officers with background information, however, as the IPCC investigation concluded, whilst Edgington was vulnerable, she was compliant and herself seeking medical assistance.
“The officers acted on the facts in front of them, which they do on a regular basis every day.
“A PNC check alone would not have prevented the actions that Edgington subsequently took.”
He added: “The IPCC concluded their investigation and no recommendations were made for either misconduct or learning for the MPS.
“They also identified that no police officer or staff breached the code of conduct or MPS policies.”
jackamo says...
5:17am Wed 6 Mar 13
Met Cmdr Neil Basu said, “A PNC check alone would not have prevented the actions that Edgington subsequently took.” Your quite right Mr Basu it may not have prevented Ms Edgington's actions but it may well have meant that the Police were able to intervene!
These two ladies were victim to a horrendous crime that may have been preventable. This is just another case of failing by the NHS and the MET. Maybe admittance of wrong doing would not only prevent a similar thing from happening again, but also give the families answers that they deserve.
The fact that no policies or code of conduct were breached may just mean that they are out of date and out of touch with reality and need reviewing!