Cheshire Constabulary has issued a forceful public statement rejecting criticism from Conservative MP David Davis, who called for a review of the police investigation into nurse Lucy Letby. Letby was convicted in 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit between 2015 and 2016. She received 15 whole-life orders, with the Court of Appeal denying her permission to appeal.
Parliamentary Allegations and Police Response
During a parliamentary adjournment debate, David Davis, the former cabinet minister, accused Cheshire Constabulary of "egregious failures" in their investigation. He claimed the force approached the case with excessive focus on suspecting Letby, failed to follow proper guidelines, and made errors in appointing expert witnesses. Davis referenced the force's previous investigation into Sally Clark, a mother wrongly convicted in 1999 based on flawed medical evidence, suggesting similar lessons were ignored.
In response, Cheshire Constabulary stated: "Cheshire constabulary strongly refutes all the points made during the adjournment debate. It implied impropriety on the part of Cheshire constabulary where none whatsoever has been established. We remain confident in the integrity of the investigation, the conduct of the prosecution, and the decisions reached by the courts."
Growing Controversy and Expert Opinions
Since Letby's convictions, numerous medical and scientific experts have challenged the verdicts. Dozens of leading UK and international specialists argue the babies died from natural causes and poor hospital care, not deliberate harm. Dr. Shoo Lee, a renowned Canadian neonatologist, assembled a panel of 14 experts who concluded there was no evidence of murders or intentional harm. Lee maintains his research was misinterpreted by prosecution witnesses.
Letby's lawyer, Mark McDonald, has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to have the case returned to the Court of Appeal, supported by reports from 27 experts. The CCRC is currently reviewing this application.
Police Statement on Misinformation and Public Confidence
Cheshire Constabulary's statement addressed what they described as a "core group of individuals" spreading misinformation. "Over the past two years, the force has come under constant criticism and has been intensely scrutinized and subject to unpleasant opinion from a core group of individuals who appear to pride themselves on spreading misinformation, making baseless claims and attempting to destroy reputations," the force stated.
They emphasized that while police scrutiny is legitimate, it must be "grounded in fact" and not interfere with due process or judicial independence. "Public confidence is best served by evidence-based discussion and responsible commentary – not ill-informed personal opinions and inaccurate details," the statement continued, adding that their thoughts remain with the babies' families.
Davis's Continued Criticism and Demands
Responding to the police statement, Davis said he was "unsurprised" and called it "entirely consistent with their behavior throughout." He repeated his demand that if Cheshire police believe they acted appropriately, they should provide investigation documents to Letby's lawyers, including policy books, records of potential suspects, and notes from meetings with expert witnesses.
Following Letby's convictions, Cheshire Constabulary conducted an additional extensive investigation into her earlier work as a nurse. They submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) alleging she murdered and attempted to murder additional children. In January 2025, the CPS announced "the evidential test was not met in any of those cases" and no further charges would be brought.
