Over 42,000 individuals have signed a petition to prevent the use of public funds for the funeral of Ian Huntley, the convicted Soham murderer. The online petition, titled ‘Do not use public money to fund a funeral or memorial for Ian Huntley,’ quickly garnered over 40,000 verified signatures within two days of its launch on Sunday. Huntley, aged 52, passed away at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle city center on Saturday following an assault with a metal bar at HMP Frankland on February 26.
Calls have been directed at Justice Secretary David Lammy to ensure that no public money or prison service funds cover any funeral or memorial expenses for Huntley. Under an existing Ministry of Justice scheme, the prison service typically contributes up to £3,000 of public funds towards the funeral costs of inmates who die in custody. Additionally, prison guidelines stipulate the organization of a memorial service through the prison chaplaincy.
Carly Batley, 47, from Deal in Kent, initiated the petition on Change.org urging the Ministry of Justice to waive the £3,000 contribution towards Huntley’s funeral expenses, scrap any scheduled prison memorial service, and reassess the automatic application of death-in-custody provisions for individuals convicted of serious crimes against children. Batley highlighted the systemic failures that allowed Huntley to commit his heinous crimes and emphasized the need for better support for the victims’ families.
Even Huntley’s daughter, Samantha Bryan, expressed her belief that her father does not merit a funeral or burial. Bryan, aged 27, stated that Huntley’s ashes should be disposed of rather than honored with a formal funeral. Notably, she discovered the true identity of her father when she was 14 and remains steadfast in her stance against commemorating Huntley in any way.
Former prison governor and criminal justice expert Ian Acheson asserted that Lammy holds the authority to override prison service policies concerning memorial services. He emphasized that any mandatory requirements for such services can be bypassed by the Secretary of State. The Ministry of Justice had previously utilized the scheme to fund funerals for other notorious criminals, like Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, in 2020.
In the aftermath of Huntley’s death, the Ministry of Justice acknowledged the profound impact of the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, deeming it one of the most shocking and distressing cases in history. The tragic events exposed significant flaws in police vetting and child protection systems, prompting extensive reforms in intelligence sharing among police forces.
The Soham murders catalyzed the initiation of the Bichard Inquiry by then Home Secretary Lord Blunkett. This inquiry aimed to scrutinize child protection procedures within Humberside Police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary, evaluating intelligence-based record-keeping practices, vetting protocols, and information exchange with other agencies. Sir Michael Bichard, overseeing the inquiry, highlighted numerous deficiencies, errors, and shortcomings in record-keeping, vetting processes, and information sharing within the involved authorities.
The inquiry’s findings led to the establishment of the Police National Database, enhancing intelligence consolidation from various law enforcement agencies. The report underscored the need for robust intelligence systems and improved coordination among agencies to prevent future lapses in child protection protocols.