Needham detective recalled over drinking
THE senior officer leading the £1 million hunt for missing Ben Needham in Kos has been ordered back to the UK after officers went on an eight-hour drinking session.
South Yorkshire Police have begun an investigation into the actions of officers who spent a long evening drinking wine and beer hours after they launched a new appeal to find Ben.
Ben, from Sheffield, was 21 months old when he vanished on July 24 1991 after travelling to the Greek island with his mother and grandparents.
Ben’s mother, Kerry Needham, has told the acting chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, Dave Jones, that a decision to recall Det Supt Matt Fenwick could put the inquiry in jeopardy.
A barrister representing Ms Needham wrote to Mr Jones on her behalf saying: “Ms Needham trusts the officers involved, believes they are working to the highest standards operationally and professionally, and wishes there to be no disruption.”
It adds: “To recall their leader is incredibly worrying for Ms Needham.”
South Yorkshire Police have confirmed a senior officer has been recalled to the UK following reports that members of the team spent eight hours drinking wine and beer in Kos.
But the force would not confirm whether the officer recalled was Det Supt Fenwick.
The detective is also the senior investigating officer in the investigation into Sir Cliff Richard and has previously been heavily criticised for his handling of the raid on the star’s Berkshire home in 2014.