Police in London May Miss More Serial Killers If ‘History Repeats Itself,’ Says Watchdog

Inspector says detectives relying on 'luck' to link cases

Undated image of Stephen Port, who was given a whole life sentence for four murders, at the Old Bailey in London in November 2016. Metropolitan Police

The risk of murders in London not being identified by the Metropolitan Police is “way higher than it should be” and the force has not fully learnt the lessons of the bungled investigation into serial killer Stephen Port, a report has said.

The report (pdf) by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said history “could repeat itself” if Metropolitan Police officers do not grasp basic standards of investigation in the case of sudden and unexplained deaths.