A senior police officer who grew up in Fareham and was this week said to have been in charge of a team with “selective amnesia” over the hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone, has today been unveiled as the new Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire.
DCC Craig Denholm
Craig Denholm was appointed as the second in command for Hampshire Constabulary yesterday (April 25) – the day after a report from the Independent Police Complaints Commission into his conduct during the investigation into the disappearance of Milly Dowler.
He is currently the deputy chief constable in Surrey but at the time of the disappearance and murder of Milly Dowler in 2002 he was the head of CID and in overall charge of the investigation into her disappearance – Operation Ruby.
The IPCC investigation into the Surrey force’s failure to investigate the hacking of the 13-year-old girl’s voicemail at the time of her disappearance found that “there was knowledge of the allegation in 2002 at all levels in Operation Ruby”, and despite that “no action was taken to investigate it despite an indication that a crime had potentially been committed”.
Deborah Glass, IPCC Deputy Chair, said: “We will never know what would have happened had Surrey Police carried out an investigation into the hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone in 2002.
“Phone hacking was a crime and this should have been acted upon, if not in 2002, then later, once the News of the World’s widespread use of phone hacking became a matter of public knowledge and concern.
“Our investigation has heard from officers and former officers from Surrey Police who have expressed surprise and dismay that it wasn’t investigated.
“We have not been able to uncover any evidence, in documentation or witness statements, of why and by whom that decision was made: former senior officers, in particular, appear to have been afflicted by a form of collective amnesia in relation to the events of 2002. This is perhaps not surprising, given the events of 2011 and the public outcry that the hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone produced.”
DCC Denholm had repeatedly denied knowledge of the illegal accessing of the teenager’s phone throughout the investigation and the IPCC was unable to find any witness or documentary evidence that contradicted his assertion that he did not know the connection to the News of the World’s alleged hacking.
The IPCC investigation found there was insufficient evidence of a case to answer for DCC Denholm and another officer.
Hampshire Constabulary said today they had been aware of the IPCC report when they made the appointment and that “Mr Denholm was an outstanding candidate and selected on merit by the Chief Constable”.
Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “Craig is an experienced and very capable DCC with a good track record of leadership and delivery of excellent policing services to the public.
“He will be a valuable addition to the team and I look forward to working with him in Hampshire over the next few years.”
The vacancy was created on Mr Marsh’s promotion to chief constable in February this year.
DCC Denholm said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as deputy chief constable in Hampshire.
“I have had the pleasure of serving with the force before and look forward to working with Andy Marsh and all in the Hampshire Constabulary team, and helping make what is already a great force even better.”
Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Hayes, who was a member of the selection panel, said: “I was very impressed with the high calibre of candidates and, in selecting Craig Denholm, I feel certain that our chief officer team will be strengthened and equipped to take the force in a positive direction, protecting people and places and ensuring Hampshire and the Isle of Wight remain safe places to live, work and visit.”