MPS could face legal action over Stephen Port `failings`
Families of the victims of serial killer Stephen Port intend to sue the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) over perceived investigative failures.
Families of the victims of serial killer Stephen Port intend to sue the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) over perceived investigative failures.
Port was found guilty of the rape and murder of Gabriel Kovari, Anthony Walgate, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor last month and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The MPS handling of the case has been widely criticised, with the force itself admitting it had missed potential opportunities in investigating the deaths.
Letters of apology were sent to the four victims families.
However, several of the mens relatives allege that officers failed to adequately perform their duties, and intend to seek recompense in court.
Sarah Sak, Amanda Pearson, and Donna and Jenna Taylor have now told the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire programme that the MPS has to be held accountable.
Donna Taylor said: Stephen Port obviously took Jacks life but we feel that the police didnt do their job, with any of the families.
As far as were concerned, they have played a massive part in Jacks death because if they had done their jobs properly, Jack would still be here today.
An investigation found that Port was luring the men to his flat for sex, sometimes renting a room to them, before fatally drugging and sexually assaulting them.
He then disposed of their bodies in a nearby graveyard, and on one occasion outside the communal entrance to his flat.
One of the victims was left near a forged suicide note, which officers apparently took at face value.
The note included the line: BTW, please do not blame the guy (Port) I was with last night, we only had sex, then I left. He knows nothing of what I have done.
The MPS is now re-examining 58 unexplained deaths involving a similar modus operandi from a four-year period across London in case signs of suspicion were missed.