I am sure many of us have questions about how cold cases are chosen to be re-investigated. This interview with former Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) John Foulkes (Metropolitan Police Service) should enlighten us how the system works.

ConsultingCops (CC) - Can you explain your rank & responsibilities in relation to cold case sexual offences investigations within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)?

DCI John Foulkes (JF) - I retired as a DCI but prior to that I was the Detective Inspector on the Metropolitan Police’s Cold Case Team - I was therefore responsible for the identification of potential cases, liaison with forensic specialist and specialist Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the investigation through to the trial of all live cases.

CC - The MPS have thousands of unsolved sex offences. How do you decide which cold case should be re-investigated?

JF - I was very lucky to have two excellent Detective Sergeant’s (DS) who would not only support my responsibilities above but would trawl through thousands of old laboratory submission forms seeking suitable cases (stranger and burglar rapes) where there was potential for DNA from exhibits still held - we focused on cases pre DNA - once we had identified that the exhibits were available a forensic meeting took place with one of 2 experts in sexual offences forensics that the MPS employed- then exhibits would be submitted to the forensic laboratory seeking identification.

CC - Can you explain the process once a cold case offence is re-investigated?

JF - If we identified an offender from the above we would seek all papers from General Registry (rape papers should be kept for 100 years before destruction) - a review of those papers and further investigation took place before a review with specialist lawyers - Dedicated CPS lawyers experts in cold case would advise on gaps in the evidence chain - once all work was done a decision that as long as an interview didn’t scupper the case a charge would be administered was made - Only then would we contact the victim and seek encouragement for a trial - usually once the victim agreed the suspect would be charged in days reducing significantly the time waiting for the victim.

CC - How many officers are in the Cold Case Unit?

JF - Unfortunately the cold case team no longer exists - it was disbanded about 9 years ago due to cost cutting - it was a huge shame as it not only gave victims hope that one day they would have their cases heard but the cases produced positive media stories for the MPS - the only cold case rape team in the country is no longer - at the time there was one DI, 2 DS’s and 6 to 8 DC s - all recruited from Sapphire (MPS sexual offences team) and Murder teams.

CC - At what stage is the victim or the victim’s family informed of the re-investigation?

JF - As above we would leave it as late as possible - when we had a green light from a lawyer (including a remand in custody decision) and when we knew exactly where the suspect was to arrest immediately.

CC - What happens if the perpetrator is discovered to be dead?

JF - If the suspect was dead we still informed the victim and sought a clear up from the CPS.

CC - Is there anything that you read in books or see on TV/Films in relation to Cold Case enquiries that is always wrong?

JF - I haven’t read a book for 10 years and I avoid all police shows based in the UK except for the Sweeney.

CC - Any other information that you think would be of interest re the work of the Cold Case team?

JF - We would prosecute even when the victim was unavailable or refused to assist whenever we could - the interesting case of Antoni Imiela (the M25 rapist serving life for 10 rapes with victims ranging from 10 to 80 years old) is an example - he was arrested for a cold case rape - he attacked his victim outside her house with a hammer - and then orally anally and vaginally raped her - After the attack the victim moved back to her native South Africa - unbelievably for her she was attacked there and was raped and murdered - we used her original statement and her ex-husband gave evidence at The Central Criminal Court (The Old Bailey) - he was about to be released from prison when he was found guilty and sentenced to a further 12 years - the maximum the kind he could give him at the time - he died in custody in 2018.