After more than 26 years, potential breakthroughs in solving the long-standing Jill Dando murder case may lie within the extensive collection of 223 evidence boxes stored deep within police facilities.
The Metropolitan Police’s recent acknowledgment of evaluating these findings marks a significant step. They clarify that this assessment is not the commencement of a new investigation but an effort to determine if the information could lead to a viable new line of inquiry.
Nigel, Jill’s brother, has noted occasional emergence of “new” information over time, often with no tangible results. Following an exhaustive two-year scrutiny alongside former colleague Matt Young, he strongly advocates for pursuing promising new leads.
The investigation into Jill’s tragic homicide stands as one of the largest probes ever conducted by the Metropolitan Police, trailing only behind the ongoing Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry. Each of the 223 evidence boxes related to Jill’s case contains approximately 1,000 pages of crucial material.
The comprehensive records total 23,246 documents stored in the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System, known as “Holmes,” specifically designed for significant criminal investigations. The 1999 investigation, Operation Oxborough, faced immense pressures from the outset.
Scotland Yard was grappling with fallout from the Macpherson report, which had labeled the institution “institutionally racist” in the wake of Stephen’s murder. The complexities of the Jill Dando case soon became apparent, posing significant challenges for resolution.
Detective Chief Inspector Hamish Campbell’s dedicated team interviewed over 2,500 individuals, tracked 1,200 vehicles, and cataloged 3,700 pieces of evidence. The exhaustive £2.75 million inquiry explored numerous leads, involving a team of 45 officers scrutinizing 80,000 mobile phones and reviewing extensive CCTV footage.
The investigation delved into 60 firearm-related female homicides, cross-referenced 8,000 names provided to the authorities, and located 20,000 blue Range Rovers. Former Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens highlighted the overwhelming influx of 3,000 daily communications through letters, calls, and emails. Additionally, Mr. Campbell received confirmation from security services dismissing the Serbian plot theory surrounding Jill’s murder.
Barry George’s arrest in April 2000 led to a year-long effort to solidify the case, aiming to avoid a debacle like the Lawrence case. Although George’s conviction initially brought relief, he was later acquitted in a 2008 retrial after spending eight wrongful years behind bars.
Mr. Campbell, esteemed by his peers, oversaw the case until his retirement in 2013, maintaining his belief in George’s culpability, as depicted in a recent Netflix documentary. Former Met Detective Chief Superintendent Barry Webb praised Campbell’s diligent and impartial pursuit of all potential leads and hypotheses.
The investigation’s status shifted to inactive in 2014 following a thorough forensic review, lacking an independent officer’s comprehensive assessment. Subsequent periodic reviews and additional forensic assessments have since been conducted.