Double murder: Police criticised (From Swindon Advertiser)

Double murder: Police criticised

9:10am Tuesday 25th November 2008 in

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A POLICE force has come in for stinging criticism for the way it handled the cries for help of a former Swindon woman who was murdered by her estranged husband.

Julia Pemberton and her son William, formerly of Castle Eaton, were shot dead by abusive chartered accountant Alan Pemberton before he turned the gun on himself on November 18, 2003 at their £1m Berkshire home.

But a review by West Berkshire’s Safer Communities Partnership said Thames Valley Police’s response on the night of the murders was cautious and unacceptable.

The report also said that significant opportunities were missed by the force to stop the murders as Mrs Pemberton had told police of a catalogue of death threats by her ex-partner.

Thames Valley Police could have, and should have, provided Julia Pemberton and members of her family with a much better service than they

Det Ch Supt Andy Taylor

Pemberton committed the murders after visiting websites including www.howtomurder.com and www.murder.com.

He also glued the locks at the family home to stop them from securing the house.

The review, which was undertaken on the guidance of the Home Office, said police failed to act competently after Mrs Pemberton made six separate complaints about the threat her former partner posed.

The review also went into detail about how Mrs Pemberton, who hid in a cupboard and phoned 999 while her ex-husband ran amok, had to wait 11 minutes for the call handler to get the correct location of her home.

The authors stated: “It is our view that on a number of occasions Julia did not receive a competent police response.

“We believe she was let down by the standards of basic policing, record keeping and follow up.

“There is evidence of instances when police officers did not attend the scene, thoroughly investigate or link incidents or crimes which were reported.”

Mrs Pemberton’s brother Frank Mullane, of Swindon, said the review was a step in the right direction, but only if the agencies involved in the case implemented the review’s recommendations.

He said: “This review has shown the serious and endemic failures in the leadership, policy support and the public services.

“There was incompetent police response in many cases, and appropriate action may have altered events that occurred on this day.”

He added that he agreed with the report which stated that his sister was let down by standards of basic policing, record keeping and follow-up.

Thames Valley Police yesterday apologised for the failures for the first time. Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Taylor, of the police force, said: “There is no doubt in my mind that Thames Valley Police could have, and should have, provided Julia Pemberton and members of her family with a much better service then they received.

“We agree with the report and apologise for the distress this has caused the family.”

The couple’s daughter Laura, 24, escaped the tragedy because she was away at Cambridge University.

She is now following a career in the health industry.

Frank Mullane has set up a charity website to help other families facing simimilar situation which can be found at aafda.org.uk or visit Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse, Edith Stevens House, 77/78 Bridge Street, Swindon, SN1 1BT.