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A public inquiry has officially commenced to investigate the murder of Emma Caldwell, a case that remained one of Scotland’s most prominent unresolved criminal investigations for many years. Emma, a 27-year-old sex worker, was killed in the woods of South Lanarkshire in 2005. It was not until last year that Iain Packer was found guilty of her murder, nearly two decades after initially being identified as a suspect. During the years before his conviction, Packer committed numerous sexual assaults against other women.
Police Scotland issued an apology acknowledging failures in how the original investigation was conducted by what was then known as Strathclyde Police. Former officers involved in the case revealed that senior police officials had instructed them to divert their attention away from Packer and instead focus on four Turkish men as suspects. This misdirection contributed to significant delays in bringing the true perpetrator to justice. The pivotal breakthrough leading to Packer’s arrest was aided by an investigation carried out by BBC Scotland, which also presented key interview footage of Packer to the jury during the trial.
In March 2024, the Scottish government mandated a judge-led public inquiry to scrutinize the original police investigation. This inquiry aims to identify exactly what went wrong, including exploring the role played by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The scope of the inquiry covers potential investigative steps that might have resulted in an earlier apprehension and prosecution of Emma’s killer, as well as any other relevant factors connected to the investigation and subsequent legal processes. Now operating independently under the leadership of Lord Scott, a former human rights lawyer, the inquiry is set to make timely recommendations to the Scottish government based on its findings.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance expressed heartfelt sympathy for Emma’s mother, Margaret Caldwell, as well as the family, acknowledging the profound pain they have endured. She emphasized that the inquiry is intended to uncover the truth behind the investigation’s failures and to provide the family with much-needed answers. Despite some issues raised during consultations not being explicitly included in the inquiry’s terms of reference, Constance stated her confidence that the framework is appropriately broad and flexible to address all significant concerns. Lord Scott welcomed the inquiry’s terms of reference, affirming they would enable a comprehensive and thorough examination of the case.
The Caldwell family’s solicitor, Aamer Anwar, voiced concerns that the inquiry’s focus on Strathclyde Police alone might limit accountability, warning that Police Scotland—established in 2013 to replace the country’s previous eight-force structure—should also be subject to scrutiny. Anwar stressed that a genuine pursuit of truth requires examining actions taken both before and after the transition to Police Scotland. Recognizing past shortcomings, Police Scotland officially apologized for the poor handling of the original investigation by its predecessor.
Packer was convicted in February of crimes involving 22 women, including 11 rapes. Although he was first questioned by detectives shortly after Emma’s body was discovered, nearly 19 years elapsed before he faced justice for her murder. During this time, he continued to sexually assault multiple women, highlighting the tragic consequences of investigative failures
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