EMMA COPS CALL IN MET
New twist as family up pressure on police
Detectives from the Met Police have been called in to help nail Emma Caldwell’s killer.
Police Scotland drafted in the elite squad after pressure from Emma’s family, frustrated by a lack
of progress in the inquiry into the 2005 murder.
The five-strong team from London have been working on the case since Monday, after having been first approached in November.
The move comes amid growing disquiet about the investigation among the Caldwell family.
They have hired solicitor Aamer Anwar, who acted for the relatives of murdered Lanarkshire waiter Surjit Singh Chhokar, to help their fresh bid for justice.
Anwar and Emma’s mum Margaret will meet Lord Advocate James Wolffe in Edinburgh on Thursday to discuss the investigation.
Four men were charged with Emma’s murder in 2007 – but the case collapsed the following year.
In 2015, the Sunday Mail revealed a secret suspect had admitted taking Emma six times to the remote spot where her body was found.
Pol ice Scotland launched an unlawful hunt for the whistleblower after our story – but the Crown Office ordered them to reopen the murder inquiry weeks later.
The man in charge of the new probe said the Met Police team had been called in to help ensure they did not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Blair said the move was agreed by Police Scotland chief constable Phil Gormley and Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.
Blair, Police Scotland’s head of major crime, said: “We are, and have been since this investigation was relaunched, absolutely utely committed to finding the murderer of Emma Caldwell.
“A lot of the past 18 monthss has been dedicated to goingg through thousands off documents and statements from m the original inquiry.
“We want to make sure that we don’t miss a thing – but this is a time-consuming process.
“At our request, we’ve a small all team of officers from the he Metropolitan Police here carrying ng out a peer examination for us.
“It’s a really emotive case and we’re dedicated to the inquiry.
“I wanted to ensure we didn’t get lost in the detail, that resources were in the right place and that our strategy and methods were correct.
“I wanted to get the comfort, as did the chief constable, that we were going in the right direction and weren’t checking our own homework.
“It shows how seriously we’re taking this inquiry. Our focus is on finding the person responsible for murdering Emma Caldwell.”
The Met detectives will look at Police Scotland’ s investigation strategy, how resources are being applied and the main lines of inquiry before reporting to Blair by mid-March.
Blair said: “Det Supt David McLaren remains the senior investigating officer and sets strategy. A detective chief inspector and detective inspector are involved full-time.”
Blair and McLaren will meet Anwar this week.
Emma, 27, from Renfrewshire, had been driven to work as a prostitute to feed a drug habit she developed in the wake of her sister’s death.
She was found murdered in a ditch in woodland in Lanarkshire in May 2002005. Pol ice initial ly pulpulled in men known to visit prostitutes regularly befbefore focusing on a TurkTurkish cafe in Glasgow. In 2007, four men were charged with strangling her in the cafe before ditching her body. But the case collapsed.
Defence lawyers questioned the accuracy of translated transcripts of taped conversations between the four accused.
In 2013, one of the men settled out of court after suing police for £100,000.
In 2015, we revealed Airdrie man Iain Packer, 43, had admitted taking Emma six times to the remote spot where her body was found.
He initially denied knowing Emma but later drove officers to the woods 45 minutes south of Glasgow.
Anwar said yesterday: “Margaret and I are meeting the Lord Advocate to express the family’s deep concerns over the case.
“They expect the meeting to be robust and will not settle for excuses – they want real answers about the direction of the investigation.
“More than 11 years after Emma’s brutal murder, her family will not give up fighting for justice and hope the Crown Office and Police Scotland remain committed to putting Emma’s killer behind bars.”
A Crown Office spokesman said: “I can confirm the Lord Advocate is meeting the family of Emma Caldwell on Thursday, February 2.”