Facebook should hand over vital murder evidence, says Met chief
BRITAIN’S most senior police officer has said tech giants should be forced to hand over crucial evidence in criminal cases “in minutes” after it was revealed that Facebook failed to cooperate with detectives investigating the murder of a schoolgirl.
Cressida Dick, the Met Commissioner, said in certain cases social media companies should cooperate much more willingly with the police to help bring criminals to justice.
She made the comments as it emerged that Hampshire Police has been forced to apply to the US Department for Justice to gain access to the Facebook details of the man suspected of killing 13-year-old Lucy Mchugh in Southampton.
Stephen Nicholson, 24, was arrested in July after the body of the girl was discovered in woods near her home.
He admitted he had been in contact with the teenager on Facebook on the day she disappeared, but would not let officers see the messages.
Last week, he was jailed for 14 months for refusing to hand over his Facebook password, but police have now had to begin the lengthy process of applying to the US courts in an attempt to get access to his account.
Ms Dick said that in serious criminal investigations tech companies should be more willing to respond to police requests for information.
She told LBC radio: “I absolutely think in certain instances – and it sounds like this is one – law enforcement in the UK ought to be able to have vital evidence which might bring someone to justice.”
Stacey White, Ms Mchugh’s mother, has also called on Facebook to help the police bring her daughter’s killer to justice by cooperating with the investigation.
“In situations like this, Facebook really should just release the information that is needed, and I think that is the opinion that everybody has,” she said.
“They should give over the account details. Lucy needs justice. It’s so easy for them to do.”
Yvette Cooper, the chair of the influential Home Affairs Select Committee, has also described the delay in handing over potentially vital information as “deeply disturbing”.
Nicholson, a father-of-one, was staying at Ms Mchugh’s family home in Southampton until several days before she was found stabbed to death in woodland on July 26.
A Facebook spokesman said: “We are working closely with law enforcement and there are well-established legal mechanisms that the police follow to obtain information in criminal investigations like this.”
Nicholson remains on bail for his arrest on suspicion of murder and sexual activity with a child.
A charging decision is anticipated on Oct 27.