Emma inquiry leads police to probe string of unsolved cases
POLICE have launched a new investigation following the findings of a probe into the 2005 murder of Emma Caldwell.
miss Caldwell, 27, had been working as a prostitute when she was found naked and strangled in woods near Roberton, Lanarkshire, 13 years ago.
she was last seen leaving a hostel where she lived in Glasgow’s south side. since then the case has remained unsolved, despite two major inquiries involving officers speaking to hundreds of persons of interest.
However during a cold-case reinvestigation of more than 1,000 statements given to the original inquiry, detectives have uncovered multiple allegations of serious crimes that appear to have been ignored at the time.
Although the statements under examination were given in 2005 and 2006, some detail potential crimes dating back as far as the 1970s and will now form the basis of the major new inquiry.
It is understood many, but not all, of the allegations relate to the abuse of women working in Glasgow’s red light district in the city centre. yesterday, miss Caldwell’s mother, margaret Caldwell, said she hoped the new inquiry would deliver justice for other forgotten victims.
she said: ‘Above all, I would like to see justice for Emma, but I would be happy if the inquiry into her death might also give justice to other women and other victims. After all these years, that would be a good thing. I’m sure Emma would be happy, too. she’d have wanted that to happen.’
The new inquiry will involve officers from Police scotland’s specialist crime division and organisations including Rape Crisis scotland, the Glasgow- based Women’s support Project, and safeguarding Communities, Reducing Offending (sacro).
Detective Chief superintendent Lesley Boal, of the public protection unit, said: ‘We are currently investigating a number of potential reports of criminality of a violent and sexual nature.
‘Police scotland is committed to tackling crime and works closely with a range of partners to reduce the risk of harm and offer support to victims.
‘We understand that people may be reluctant to contact the police, but all victims will be treated with the utmost respect and advocacy and support services are at hand.
‘We are committed to ensuring that when complaints are received relating to rapes, sexual offences and other crimes they will be investigated in a robust and proper manner.’
The original murder investigation was one of the longest and most expensive mounted in scotland. It led to the arrest of four Turkish men but the court case against them collapsed.
In 2015, ten years after miss Caldwell’s death, police were ordered to reopen the inquiry after it emerged there was a ‘forgotten suspect’.
A three-year inquiry led by Detective superintendent David mcLaren reported to prosecutors last month, naming a single suspect. The Crown Office is currently considering the next steps.
Another team of detectives were ordered to conduct an investigation into the management of the original inquiry.
meanwhile, watchdogs have condemned unlawful attempts by Police scotland to identify journalists’ sources by seizing phone and email records of former and serving officers.
‘Give justice to other women’