Daniel Morgan Independent Panel

The Daniel Morgan Independent Panel was established in May 2013 to investigate the unsolved murder of Daniel Morgan, a private investigator who was killed with an axe in a pub car park in south London in 1987. The panel was tasked with examining the failings in the handling of the case by the police and the justice system, particularly the allegations of corruption within the Metropolitan Police and the obstacles faced by Morgan’s family in their quest for justice.

Chaired by Baroness Nuala O’Loan, the panel investigated the five police investigations and multiple failed prosecutions related to the case. The final report, released on 15 June 2021, concluded that the Metropolitan Police was institutionally corrupt in its handling of the case. It found that police officers had undermined the initial investigation to protect those involved in the murder, and that the force consistently prioritized its own reputation over transparency and accountability. This included concealing or delaying the disclosure of evidence and failing to address internal corruption.

The panel also criticized the relationship between the police and the press, highlighting how some journalists were complicit in corrupt practices, such as illegally obtaining information. Furthermore, it noted that successive governments and authorities failed to sufficiently tackle corruption within the police force, which hindered progress in the investigation.

The panel made 24 recommendations, which included measures to strengthen police accountability, improve whistle-blower protections, and enhance support for families of victims. It also called for the Metropolitan Police to acknowledge and address its past failures openly. The report emphasized the need for cultural change within the police force to rebuild public trust and prevent future instances of corruption.

The inquiry, which lasted 98 months and cost approximately £16 million, was one of the most extensive investigations into institutional corruption in UK policing history. It highlighted systemic issues that extend beyond the Daniel Morgan case, underscoring the urgent need for reform in areas such as transparency, integrity, and the treatment of victims' families.

The panel's findings have had a profound impact on public discourse around police accountability and institutional reform. However, the case of Daniel Morgan remains unsolved, with his family continuing to seek justice more than three decades after his tragic death.