Investigation into documents not disclosed to the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel - Metropolitan Police Service, May 2023

The Daniel Morgan Independent Panel (the Panel) reported in June 2021. It exposed the failures of the investigations into Daniel Morgan’s murder in south London on 10 March 1987. It also branded the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) as “institutionally corrupt”, in part because of the Panel’s views on the MPS’ attitude to the disclosure of material to the Panel and its perceived institutional defensiveness.

In May 2023, the MPS disclosed that in January 2023 it had found a quantity of documents relating to the work of the Panel which had not previously been disclosed to the Panel. The documents, which the MPS had believed were lost or destroyed, were found in a locked cabinet in New Scotland Yard. 

The former Chair of the Panel, Baroness Nuala O’Loan, made a complaint regarding:

• the failure of the MPS to disclose the documents in question to the Panel;
• the failure of the MPS to inform the Panel that the documents existed and were believed to have been lost or destroyed; and
• the delay between the finding of the documents and the MPS informing interested parties.

Baroness O’Loan’s complaint was referred to the IOPC and we determined it should be independently investigated by us.

During the investigation, we concluded there was an indication that a former senior MPS officer may have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour with regard to the failure to inform the Panel that the documents existed but were believed to have been lost or destroyed. We assessed that breach, if proved or admitted, as amounting to misconduct rather than gross misconduct. The former officer was notified, however as no proceedings for misconduct can be taken against a former officer, the matter continued as a complaint investigation.

Towards the end of the investigation, on a review of the evidence gathered, we concluded there was an indication that a further two former senior MPS officers may have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour with regard to the matters raised by Baroness O’Loan’s complaint. Those former officers were notified of the potential criticisms of their conduct and given the opportunity to respond.

Based on the material gathered by the investigation, the IOPC decision maker determined that, whilst there was evidence that two of the former officers may have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour, these breaches did not justify disciplinary action. 

However, the IOPC upheld all of Baroness O’Loan’s complaints. Although the documents in question would not have affected the Panel’s conclusions and there was no evidence of any intention to deceive the Panel, the IOPC concluded that the service provided by the MPS was unacceptable.

The IOPC recommended that the MPS offer an apology to Baroness O’Loan on behalf of the Panel and to the family of Daniel Morgan. The MPS accepted that recommendation and has sent letters of apology.