Emma Caldwell inquiry faces more delays due to after-effects of riots

Margaret Caldwell will have to wait longer before she gets answers to questions over the murder of her daughter Emma.

The long-overdue inquiry into police handling of the murder of Emma Caldwell by one of Scotland’s worst predators, Iain Packer, faces even further delay because of public disorder in England.

Emma’s devastated mother Margaret has already waited almost 20 years to get answers over the killing of her beloved daughter.

Public anger over police handling of the 2005 abduction and murder of 27-year-old Emma led to the Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain stepping in and ordering an inquiry by an outside force in March into allegations of potential criminality.

But we can reveal that no force has yet taken on the role, leaving politicians furious over the lack of action.

Margaret Caldwell (left), the mother of murder victim Emma Caldwell, and lawyer Aamer Anwar (right), meet with Police Scotland chief constable Jo Farrell.

Government documents reveal that last month Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell told Justice Secretary Angela Constance that forces in England have been too busy dealing with public riots and disorder to commit to the public inquiry.

One of Scotland’s worst predators, Packer, 51, remained free and able to carry out a further 31 attacks while police spent over £4 million and years investigating Turkish businessmen who ran a Glasgow city café instead of the real killer.

In February Packer was finally jailed for 36 years for Emma’s murder as well as 11 rapes and 20 other offences involving nine women.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Liam McArthur said: “Once it had been agreed that an outside police force should be brought in to assess Police Scotland’s work, the burden is then to make sure that this takes place in a timely fashion.

“There will always be significant pressures on police resources, but it prolongs the pain for Emma’s family and other victims for this process to be drawn out still further.

“I would urge the Justice Secretary to have a quiet word and find out why this is dragging on once more.”

Scottish Labour’s justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said “It is vital that there is a full inquiry to get answers on what went so tragically wrong in the investigation of Emma Caldwell’s murder.

“It has taken years of fighting by Emma’s family and by journalists for the truth to be uncovered and for justice to be done – we cannot give up now. All of Emma Caldwell’s loved ones and Iain Packer’s victims deserve the truth and I hope that this inquiry can move forward without delay.”

And Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: “Iain Packer’s heinous crimes brought unimaginable grief to far too many families in Scotland – and especially Emma Caldwell’s loved ones.

“It’s vital that this inquiry is held as soon as possible to give Packer’s victims and their families the answers they deserve.”

Emma, from Erskine, was targeted by Packer as the vulnerable young woman found herself turning to drugs after the tragic death of her older sister.

Emma, who shielded her loving parents from the awful truth of how she sometimes made money to pay for the drugs which blocked out her pain, was found murdered at an isolated area known as Limefield Woods near Roberton, in Lanarkshire, miles from the city centre where she had last been seen on April 4, 2005.

Despite evidence pointing to Packer, and detectives from their own force telling senior officers that they believed him to be responsible, he was allowed to remain free.

Packer had even admitted to police that he had taken Emma to the isolated woods where her naked body was eventually found.

Retired detective Gerry Gallagher revealed he had “solved” Emma’s murder nine years ago.

His astonishing findings finally led to Emma’s family being informed about Packer and the Crown Office ordered Police Scotland to reinvestigate the case in 2015.

This time, Packer was arrested after being named as the “forgotten suspect”.

Police Scotland said: “We have been clear that we will fully support any further police investigation into the murder of Emma Caldwell and discussions to identify an external force to carry out this significant piece of work are continuing.

“Clearly there are resourcing and cost implications to consider and the widespread disorder witnessed across many parts of England during the summer has impacted the capacity of forces to take on external investigations such as this.”

The Crown Office said: “The Lord Advocate asked for an independent police probe to be carried out into allegations of potential criminality by police officers.”