The family of Emma Caldwell, who was murdered in 2005 by a serial rapist, has issued a statement calling for a public inquiry into the police handling of the case. They say the police failed to protect Emma and other vulnerable women from the killer, who continued to commit violent crimes for almost two decades.
A long-awaited verdict
Iain Packer, 51, was found guilty of murdering Emma Caldwell in a remote woodland near Biggar, South Lanarkshire, on 29 February 2024. He was also convicted of 32 other charges against 22 women, including 11 rapes and multiple sexual assaults. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 36 years.
Emma Caldwell was a 27-year-old sex worker who had started using heroin to cope with the loss of her sister. She was last seen alive in Glasgow city centre on 4 April 2005. Her naked body was discovered five weeks later by a dog walker. She had been strangled with her own scarf.
Packer had become obsessed with Emma and had taken her to the woods where he killed her. He had also taken other sex workers to the same area and subjected them to brutal attacks. He was arrested in 2007 after he took two police officers to the crime scene, but he was released without charge.
A flawed investigation
Emma’s family has accused the police of negligence and incompetence in their investigation of her murder. They say the police ignored vital evidence, failed to follow up leads, and focused on the wrong suspects. They also claim the police treated Emma and other sex workers with contempt and indifference, and did not take their reports of violence seriously.
The family’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said the police had “blood on their hands” and that Packer could have been stopped earlier if they had done their job properly. He said the police had “sat on” evidence that linked Packer to Emma’s murder and other crimes, while he continued to prey on vulnerable women.
The family has called for a public inquiry into the police conduct and the role of the Crown Office, which is responsible for prosecuting crimes in Scotland. They want to know why Packer was not charged sooner, why other potential witnesses were not interviewed, and why the case was not reviewed until 2019.
A quest for justice
Emma’s mother, Margaret Caldwell, said she was relieved that Packer had been convicted, but that it did not bring her any closure. She said she still had many questions and wanted to know the truth about what happened to her daughter and why it took so long to catch her killer.
She said she hoped that Emma’s case would highlight the plight of sex workers and the need for better protection and support for them. She said she wanted to see an end to the stigma and discrimination that they face, and to ensure that their lives are valued and respected.
She said she would continue to fight for justice for Emma and other women who had suffered at the hands of Packer. She said she would not rest until she got answers and accountability from the authorities.
