A Confession (2019) s01e05 Episode Script

This whole series of events began with a deliberate decision by a senior officer to breach the PACE code.
Do you want another one? Another one? What resulted was not admissible evidence in a criminal trial.
We should still be OK with the case against him for Sian.
We have the DNA evidence.
Her blood in his car, his DNA on her body.
What about Becky? The confession evidence is all we had.
And, er, I'm afraid, without that, we'll have to take her name off the indictment.
Well, this is Fulcher's fault! Usual deal.
None of what we talk about can be used by ITV until after the verdict.
Yeah, agreed.
Well, he's a serial killer, Rob.
I am convinced of it.
His big hero was that Myra Hindley off the Moors Murders.
I want to make a complaint about one of your police officers.
Well, it's a complaint, Steve.
We'll have to decide whether it constitutes just misconduct or gross misconduct.
- Really? - He said they were gunning for him.
He felt abandoned by Wiltshire Police, cut adrift.
But where is Becky in the pecking order? Right down at the bottom, where she's always been.
So you go back and you tell your bosses, no, I am not satisfied.
Not at all.
I had a word with Mike.
Unfortunately, he's already referred it to the IPCC.
They're going to charge you.
Gross misconduct.
- Happy anniversary! - Oh - Thank you very much.
- Happy anniversary, Mum.
Happy anniversary, Dad.
Oh, that's lovely! Oh, thank you.
That's beautiful.
- They helped me choose it.
Didn't you? - Just a little bit.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Ah-ha! I've always wanted It's got a little red light that flashes if you're too stressed - and you press it too hard.
- Do you think I'm stressed? - Mm, maybe - And I thought I was hiding it.
- Maybe a little bit.
- Keep out of it, you.
- The card's from all three of us.
- Thank you very much.
- We're behind you.
- Thank you.
- Happy anniversary.
- Mm-hm.
That helps me a lot, I'll tell you.
We have statements from prostitutes putting Halliwell with Becky in the lead-up to the murder.
We have the guy he shared a cell with saying that he liked to strangle women during sex.
It's all there.
Eight murders, he told his mate on the phone.
Now, we know about two.
Who's out there looking for the other six? It's not me.
I'm sat on my arse on restricted duties.
Have they, er, set a date for your disciplinary hearing? Before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, I'm in total limbo.
No case, no team.
The knives are out for me, too.
- What? - Mike Veale suddenly announced to me that he didn't need me as a staff officer any more.
He thought I'd resign.
I refused to.
Then I find this week that he's appointed a new staff officer.
It's a joke.
I mean, this is my problem.
They can't go after you, too.
I'm going to have this out with them.
Steve, don't.
Steve - Pat, can I have a quick word? - Steve Listen, I know there's a lot of flak flying around, but it's not fair to What's wrong with your phone? I've been trying to call you.
- I had it on charge.
- Mike Veale wants to see you.
OK.
I'll tell him you're on your way.
- 25 years Halliwell got.
- That's Karen.
He'll get out, so he'll have plenty of his life in front of him.
I feel for her, of course I do.
But Fulcher broke the law.
You know that.
I don't really know what I think any more, to be honest.
I know I'd rather not get into this right here and now with Karen.
- I'll sign.
- Oh, thank you.
Thank you very much.
You're actually the first.
That's It's all my family there.
That's That's me at the top.
Thank you.
25 years Halliwell got.
And he'll get out.
Mike wanted to see me? Oh, right, Steve.
Just a minute.
Mike will see you now.
Thank you.
Hello, Steve.
Come in.
Sit down.
- Mike.
Kier.
- Steve.
I asked DCS Pritchard to be here this morning to make a note of everything.
Now, I have to tell you, Steve, that I am suspending you from duty with immediate effect.
It's been brought to my attention that you had an unauthorised meeting with a member of the press, the ITV journalist Rob Murphy, during which you discussed Operation Mayan.
This is a meeting that you were expressly forbidden to attend.
An officer from a neighbouring force happened to be in the pub that night and witnessed the meeting and reported it to Kier.
Well, as you know, Steve, I expressly told you you're not to do any interviews with journalists.
I don't recall any conversation along those lines, Kier.
I mentioned it at one of the routines recently.
Mm-hm.
Now, I consider this matter to be serious enough to warrant immediate suspension.
- Do you have anything to say? - No, I don't.
Very well, could you please give me your pass and warrant card? You will now be escorted from the premises by Tom, who's waiting for you outside.
He'll accompany you to your house to recover any force documents or property.
Do you understand what I've said to you? I do.
I'll ask you again if you have anything to say.
I don't.
Fine.
That's everything.
Er, I'll take the phone.
- Can I at least call my wife? - I'm afraid not.
Oh, could I have that, please, sir? Are you coming in? Oh, it's Steve.
Maughan and Ned are here.
- Er, where's the laptop, please? - What's going on? It's in the kitchen on the dining table.
Would you accompany me in there, please? - Steve? - I've been suspended.
What?! My mum and dad are in there.
Can I get it for you? I'm sorry.
Hi, folks.
Hello.
- Hi, Steve.
- Hello.
- Is this it? - Yes.
- Everything all right? - Yes, it's a work thing.
And she was going round all of the toilets in the school and she slid under all the doors, locked them, and then slid back out again so that all the doors, all the toilets in the whole school were locked.
- How stupid.
- Mm, goodness.
I mean, it's kind of silly for her to get expelled, because she's a good student, she's got good grades.
It's not that big a deal, it's just a joke.
Just cos she's your friend.
Do you remember Amelia who was here last week? - Oh, yeah.
- You know, the really bitchy one.
- She's not really bitchy.
- Yes, she is.
She's not that bad.
But she's started to Don't worry.
Er, would you like to come through? Thank you.
Thank you for coming to see me, Mrs Edwards.
The IPCC is an independent body that's been set up to examine complaints against the police.
I've asked you to come and see me today to discuss a complaint that has been made against the officer leading the investigation into the murder of your daughter Rebecca.
Against Steve Fulcher? Detective Superintendent Fulcher, that's correct.
I wanted to know if you wanted to add your name to the complaint against him.
Who's made this complaint? Rebecca's father, John Godden.
You're joking! John?! Oh, you've got to be kidding! That's Have you met John Godden? All complaints about the police must be dealt with without prejudice.
And it has been deemed that the points Mr Godden has raised are serious enough to warrant an investigation.
Specifically, Detective Superintendent Fulcher's failure to apply the rules of PACE to his interview with the chief suspect Christopher Halliwell and prevented justice for his daughter.
But if it wasn't for Steve Fulcher we'd never have found our daughter.
So, how does he work that one out? So, you don't agree with your ex-husband's view about Chief Superintendent Fulcher's conduct? No.
We bloody don't.
If Mrs Edwards could answer the question, please.
No, I bloody well don't! We've got to help him, Charlie.
We can't leave him to be thrown to the wolves.
You know, I'm sure it suits them to make out he's the one that messed up.
You know, "It's not us, it's him.
" But you can't take on everyone, Karen.
So, they're after Steve's blood.
But the man who murdered Becky has got away with it.
- How do you work that one out? - Come on, love, get in.
No, justice for Steve is justice for Becky.
It's only a bloody can of Coke.
He just had to ask first.
And I have told him that time and time again.
He has no male role model in his life.
Mick only sees him every other weekend.
To all intents and purposes, I'm his father now.
Let me in, Elaine.
I want to help.
Lauren! - I was just passing.
- Come in.
It's so lovely to see you.
Come in.
- Are you going to come and say hello? - I'm all right in here.
Elaine This is my daughter.
- We don't get on, Pete.
- Yeah, I know.
But can't you just be the bigger person? Come on, love, let's go through.
Hello? Of course.
OK, he's ready to see you now.
Thank you very much.
This is a great pleasure to meet you, Mr Edwards.
- Charlie.
- Please Thank you very much for seeing us, Mr Buckland.
- Not at all.
- I know you must be very busy.
You've got all the documents I sent you.
- Mm.
- I feel very passionate about this.
Halliwell must be prosecuted for the murder of my daughter.
Not just so Becky gets justice, but cos the police officer involved, Detective Superintendent Fulcher, because it's not fair that he should be facing losing his career over this - when all he did was try to save - Karen, not all at once.
You're bombarding the man.
Sorry.
It's just, once I start, I I find it hard to stop.
But what I wanted to say, and I know you're a lawyer yourself, is I think there's a grey area here with PACE.
I agree.
You agree? Yes.
Yeah, I think PACE does need to be looked at.
So can you help us? You've started a petition? Yes, we've got over 7,000 signatures so far.
Right, you need to get that number up as high as you possibly can.
If I'm to lobby the Government, the higher the number, the more they'll take notice.
And you also need to keep on doing your radio and TV interviews whenever you get the chance.
You see, the more the campaign features in the press, the likelihood increases that the Government could ask Wiltshire Police Service some awkward questions.
Oh, right.
You need to be visible, Mrs Edwards, and make people aware of PACE's limitations.
But to answer your question simply, then yes, I'd like to try and help you.
Oh, thank you! Thank you very much, Mr Buckland! - Hey.
- Hi! Hi, how are you doing? Nice to see you.
Can I get you a drink? - Erm, red wine.
- Mm-hm.
Thank you.
They've sent a file off to the Crown Prosecution Service for a criminal prosecution against you.
Criminal? What for? Malfeasance in a public office.
Malfeasance?! They want to put him in prison now? Malfeasance is about abuse of office.
Trying to find Sian alive and trying to recover the body of a missing girl isn't malfeasance.
I mean, if that's the case, who is the victim? Hm? It'd have to be Halliwell.
The prosecution case would have to be that, but for my actions, poor old Christopher Halliwell would be a free man.
Well, the CPS threw it out.
But it shows you their mind-set.
Seems they want to get you for something.
I'm going to the loo.
I may well throw up.
This is driving her mad.
She wants me to resign.
And do what? I've been a detective for more than 20 years.
Please, don't jump yet, Steve.
At least wait until you see a lawyer about your defence for the disciplinary hearing.
Hear what he has to say.
I can't believe they won't exonerate you - once they hear the evidence.
- Mm-hm.
What's happening to you is horrible and unfair.
But you mustn't give in.
I'm not an expert and I've never done anything like this before.
And I've discovered I actually hate the sound of my own voice.
But I am a mother who has lost her daughter.
And I feel that gives me the right to speak my mind.
Because I am absolutely raging about this inside.
My daughter had her problems.
But that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve justice.
That doesn't mean we should treat her any differently to anybody else who's had their life snatched away from them.
I'm asking the Government to urgently review Code C of PACE, which covers the detention, treatment and questioning of suspects by police officers.
PACE is nearly 30 years old and it was brought in because of concerns over the way the police were behaving with people in custody.
Which I understand.
But what Steve Fulcher faced were a very, very unusual set of circumstances.
And I feel there should be more flexibility when police officers arrest people in situations like that.
Because I don't want anybody else to suffer what we have been through as a family.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
- I love you.
- I love you, too.
See you soon.
Excuse me, it's Karen, isn't it? I'm Yvonne.
Steve's wife.
I just want to say hello.
Oh, how lovely to meet you.
This is my husband Charlie.
I am so sorry Steve's having to go through this.
In my opinion, it's an absolute disgrace and please don't think we had anything to do with it.
This is all down to him.
And when I heard he'd made a complaint, after all Steve has done for us, I could have wrung his neck.
Nice to meet you.
Erm, I was going to go outside.
- I'm not allowed to stay in here.
- Oh, that's ridiculous.
Don't you worry, love.
We'll look after him.
Thanks.
Good morning, everyone.
I am Chief Constable Andy Parker from Warwickshire Police and I'll be chairing this hearing.
There are some of you that I haven't met before.
I wonder if we can begin by you telling us your names? Anna Proctor, IPCC.
Thank you.
- The gentleman at the back? - Er My name is John Godden.
Father of Rebecca Godden.
David Godden, John's brother.
Karen Edwards, mother of Rebecca Godden-Edwards.
Could you just hang on a minute, cos I? I think I'm on the wrong side here.
Cos I don't want to be associated with this lot.
Because we're here to support Steve Fulcher.
So, were going to Come on, Charlie.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Carry on.
The first allegation concerns a complaint brought against you by Mr Godden.
It is alleged that your behaviour, when dealing with Mr Halliwell on 24th March, 2011, fell below the standards of professional behaviour required of an officer of your standing.
Do you admit or deny the allegation? I deny the allegation.
Allegation two.
It is alleged by your employer, Wiltshire Police, that, by having inappropriate contact with the media, your conduct again fell below the same standards.
Do you admit or deny the allegation? I deny the allegation.
The provisions of PACE are quite clear, Mr Fulcher.
I mean, they're there to protect the rights of all of us.
- Yes.
- Yet, you did not caution Christopher Halliwell as the law dictates.
Now, why not? Because I felt it was disingenuous to begin an interview with Halliwell in those circumstances by saying, "You don't have to say anything.
" I felt his right to silence directly conflicted with Sian's right to life.
Er, a little while later, Halliwell says to you, "Do you want another one?" Now, what did you understand this to mean? It wasn't actually clear, initially, what it meant.
Well, if it wasn't clear, wouldn't it have been better to arrest him for Sian, caution him, and then clarify things on the other one back at the police station? But they wouldn't have been clarified, would they? His solicitor would've advised him to go, "No comment," - and that would've been that.
- Not necessarily.
He could've been properly cautioned, brought back to the station and then revealed the victim's whereabouts.
That's the difference between theory and practice.
I mean, in practice, that has never happened.
Not once, in my whole career.
Now, if you had arrested him and cautioned him at that point, then everything that followed would have remained admissible in evidence.
Not to do so was a gross error of judgment on your part, wasn't it? I don't believe it was, no.
I feel like a madman in a roomful of people who don't understand me.
I'm saying the same thing over and over again and nobody's listening.
Mr Geenty, you've always supported Steve Fulcher's reasoning for not cautioning Christopher Halliwell, haven't you? I have no doubt about his good faith that day.
Yes, but his judgment, his reasoning.
At the pre-trial hearing, before the Sian O'Callaghan trial, you said, "I think the decision Steve made was, "to use the slang, a gutsy decision.
"And I'd like to think I would make a similar decision "in the same circumstances.
" Well, that was when he was still hoping that Sian might be found alive.
We all were.
But I disagree with his judgment when it came to him being offered information about the second body.
That is where I think PACE and the protection of the suspect would have become paramount because tragically, at that point, when he knew Sian was dead, the urgent interview provision no longer applied.
So you agree with his actions in relation to Sian, but not to Becky? No, I believe, at that point, in the heat of the moment, he could not have been thinking clearly.
So what are you saying, then? That Becky doesn't matter? Would it be fair to say that Steve Fulcher was by far the most experienced SIO that Wiltshire had at the point of the Sian and Becky investigation? Steve has demonstrated that he has a solid track record.
And that, whatever else this case is about, there is no doubt that he is an outstandingly good police officer.
He is a very competent officer, yes.
Now, in spite of the fact that it's normal for senior officers to give off-the-record media briefings, you say you had a conversation with Steve Fulcher to tell him of an order by the then Deputy Chief Constable Geenty that he wasn't to do any interviews with journalists.
That is correct, yes.
You made an entry into your diary that day, didn't you? You record 16 points relating to various matters you'd discussed with him.
But the one thing you haven't recorded is any mention of Steve Fulcher being told not to speak to the media.
I spoke to Steve Fulcher about DCC Geenty's order at the end of the conversation.
Those other points were from the first part of the conversation.
But surely, Mr Geenty's order would've been the most important part of that conversation, based on the fact that Steve Fulcher stands here today with the prospect of losing his career because of it? I didn't feel it necessary to have recorded that part of the conversation.
But I can assure you that it did happen.
Is this actually misconduct at all? In both instances, the failure to caution Christopher Halliwell and the interviews Detective Superintendent Fulcher gave to the media, might not many members of the public say, "Surely, there are better ways for the police service and the IPCC "to deal with such matters? "Are you really satisfied, based on the evidence before you, "that you could take the steps to remove this man's career?" - Thank you, Mr Beggs.
- Are there any questions from Rebecca's family members present today? Well, not from me.
I'm very happy with how it's gone.
- Mrs Edwards? - I agree with Mr Beggs.
It seems ridiculous all this public money's been spent on this.
Thank you, both.
Well, we shall now retire to consider our judgment.
You will be informed of our verdict in due course, when this hearing will reconvene.
Thank you.
Come on, you reds! My sister got in a cab with him.
- With Halliwell? - Yeah.
She seen his picture in the paper and she was sure it was him.
She gets in his cab and he drives her the wrong way, out towards Savernake Forest, acting all weird, like.
She screams and opens the door and someone sees them.
And he pulls over and lets her out.
Says he was just having a laugh with her.
- She doesn't know how lucky she is.
- Yeah, that's what my mum says.
All right, thank you.
Thank you.
We just wanted to check that you were OK.
See if you had any worries or questions.
Thank you.
It's much appreciated.
I don't know if you're aware of what Karen Edwards is doing.
She's got a petition going.
I'm aware of it, yeah.
Her support for Stephen Fulcher is very commendable, but Wiltshire Police Service feel it is misguided.
Our position is that Fulcher shouldn't have breached PACE.
Yeah, that's how we feel.
We would have found Sian's body anyway.
That's good to know.
We've heard from Karen's FLO that she would like to meet you.
Would you be interested in us arranging that? No, I wouldn't.
Thank you.
After she got in the car with him I keep wondering what happened to her after that.
I torment myself wondering if it was quick.
Erm He pleaded guilty, so we didn't have to give a detailed account in court.
Or at least one that we could challenge.
Did she know what he was going to do with her? Was she frightened? Halliwell said that he killed her quickly.
Within a few minutes of setting off.
She started struggling, so he stabbed her.
Erm I don't know if I believe him.
She wasn't wearing her boots when you found her.
They were tight-fitting.
When did they come off? Did? Did he start to undress her? I just keep playing it over and over in my head.
Different scenarios and I just see her face, Pete.
Terrified.
Come here It's OK.
Come here.
Shh I want to look after you, Elaine.
I'm here for you, all right? Everything that's happened has just made me want to protect you.
Why don't you pack it in at work? You hate that fucking job.
I can support you.
I want us to be together properly, Elaine.
Mm.
I have asked you not to smoke inside.
Why don't you have a shower? Why don't you have a nice shower and we could go to Brighton? The girls are out tonight.
We could have lunch and we wouldn't have to rush back.
Do I smell, Yvonne? - What? - Or do I stink? Can you smell me from there? I don't know what you're talking about.
Oh, obfuscation.
I can tell from your answer, or, more accurately, your lack of an answer, that I don't.
Therefore no need for me to shower.
Is this you being funny? Anyway, I'm not allowed to leave the county without getting permission from them.
- You're joking? - It's true.
I have to ask them if I can leave Wiltshire.
Well OK.
What has happened to Steve Fulcher is nothing short of scandalous.
Cos, without him, my daughter would be lying in a field somewhere without anyone knowing where she was.
But he has been hounded from pillar to post while Christopher Halliwell, who murdered her, has never faced justice for what he did.
Our Justice For Becky campaign is petitioning the Government to change the PACE law.
So, please, sign our petition if you see us around Swindon.
Not ideal.
What, are you worried about a backlash if Karen Edwards' support for Steve Fulcher gains too much momentum? Because, I have to admit, it has crossed my mind.
It's not great, from a PR point of view.
No.
Maybe we should have another think about the investigation.
Yeah.
I know we bicker, I know he can be controlling.
But he can be so sweet.
He's picked me up when I was down.
He's been there for me all through this.
He's been my rock.
He did force you to get that lump on your boob checked.
I will give him that.
And just when I think he's exactly what I need, things happen and I wonder if he is.
We've had another row because he says Aiden took a can of Coke out of the fridge without asking.
Really? A can of Coke? That's the, er the police at Karen's.
I wonder what they're there for.
She asked to meet me, Karen.
- What did you say? - No.
I can't face her.
I know I should, but I can't really explain it.
We have come across so many people who have given us information on Halliwell.
People who say they got into his taxi with him and had scary experiences.
People saying he got obsessed with women and would stalk them.
People who can link him to girls who have gone missing.
But it's all hearsay, Karen.
People say they know someone who knew him or people who've heard something about him and not seen it for themselves.
Nothing that would stand up in court.
I'm sorry, but trying to play amateur detective and criticising Wiltshire Police in the media is not helping things.
It's not all critical.
I always tell everybody what a fantastic job Steve Fulcher did.
And he is a Wiltshire police officer, isn't he? We're all in this together.
Now, I was speaking to Sian's mum Elaine the other day and she was saying the same thing.
It's a team effort.
Did you tell her I'd asked to meet her? - I did.
- And what did she say? Er She says it's not the right time for her at the moment.
Well, my door is always open.
When you spoke to the psychiatrist about those feelings of rage, Christopher, of being consumed by a single thought, did he talk about finding a harmless release mechanism? For example, to think of something that calms us down.
Well, I told him I liked to go fishing.
I used to love sitting there for hours on end.
I find it very peaceful.
And that's good.
Yeah.
I had this special place where I liked to fish.
Out in the woods.
It was like my own private I don't know what you'd call it.
A sanctum.
Yeah.
I used to love going there.
My special place.
The panel feels that the continuation of custody of Christopher Halliwell without caution or without any of the other safeguards afforded him by PACE, particularly when en route to the location of Rebecca Godden, cannot be justified.
At such time as it became apparent that Sian O'Callaghan was dead, you should have stopped the car, turned it around and taken Halliwell into custody.
And the panel has a wider duty to perform in respect to public confidence, and the message needs to be sent to other officers that a detective cannot ignore PACE to such an extent without being held fully to account.
And we regard your conduct as gross misconduct.
On allegation two, the panel concludes that, on the balance of probability, you were given an instruction by Chief Superintendent Pritchard to not give interviews to the media.
This is not behaviour we would expect from a senior officer and we regard the conduct as gross misconduct.
These breaches would justify dismissal.
However, taking into account your previous exemplary record, the panel has concluded that the most appropriate sanction is a final written warning.
And I cannot stress how close you came to losing your job today.
I do hope that you have learnt from this experience.
It's not right what Fulcher did! Why should we have to pay with our pain because of his mistakes? I've been mentally scarred by this.
It seems to me, come to Swindon and commit a murder cos you'll get away with it.
I will never trust the police again.
Never.
I can start back as soon as possible.
And you're actually going to? Well, what else am I going to do? I'm a police officer.
It's all I It's all I know, Yvonne! - And I am fucking good at it! - Good for you, Steve! Fuck everyone else! We're very pleased to have you here, Steve.
Thank you.
- You knew Ray Hayward, is that right? - Er, yes.
Yes, I liked Ray.
I met him many times in meetings.
He always had an interesting take on things, you know.
Here we are.
Now, when the word went round that you were available, our previous Bobby Van manager has just retired.
Mm-hm.
- You're obviously a bit overqualified - What exactly is Bobby Van? It's a local initiative to get a van out to burglary and criminal damage victims to get their windows and doors and suchlike fixed up.
Mm-hm.
Right.
Well, I'll I'll leave you to it.
Give you a chance to get up to speed on everything.
- Thank you.
- OK.
This is about justice for Becky.
And justice for a brave police officer, whose career has been ruined just for doing his job.
And over 40,000 people have signed our petition, and with the help of our local MP we are delighted to be able to deliver our demand for a change in the law directly to Mr Cameron.
And this must never be allowed to happen again.
Will my Right Honourable friend join our cause for a thorough review of Code C of the Police And Criminal Evidence Act so that terrible situations like this will not happen again? I will look very carefully at what my honourable friend has raised and the specific case that he mentions, and look also at this issue of the Police And Criminal Evidence Act.
It is always important that all information that possibly can be put in front of a court is put in front of the court so the court can reach the correct, er the correct decision.
I want you to know that it's OK to feel happy again.
That, if something good happens, it's OK to smile or feel good inside.
It's not betraying Sian to feel like that.
Me and Pete have decided that we make each other happy.
So, we're going to get married.
And I wanted to tell you before anyone else, so you can tell me how you feel about it.
If it's what you want.
- Mm.
- I'm happy for you.
Aiden? I'm glad that you want to marry Pete.
I just want you to be happy, Mum.
I've had enough, Steve.
I can't take any more.
- OK, if I retire early - Mm-hm.
my pension will be cut.
- We wouldn't have enough to live on.
- I don't care.
Good to see you.
So, this is where we are.
Erm Well, Mr Cameron was true to his word and he referred this to Theresa May, the Home Secretary.
Excellent.
And she referred it to Damian Green, the Policing Secretary.
And he passed it on to ACPO, the Association of Chief Police Officers.
- Right.
- And they asked for comments from the relevant police service, Wiltshire.
Then they went back to Damian Green with their recommendation for no action required.
They advise that Section 11 of PACE is only applicable to a threat to life and the recovery of evidence and, therefore, didn't apply in this case.
But that's exactly what Steve was doing.
He was trying to save Sian and recover Becky's body.
So I'm very sorry.
The pond itself.
And as you can see, we've pulled out a lot of pieces of clothing.
- That's quite a lot there.
- It is.
What are we up to now? About 20 items so far.
But I expect that to go up.
We're going to have another scan of the pond and see if we can pull anything else out.
We might have missed one or two things.
Sir! Yeah.
OK.
Excellent.
I think that might be Sian's boot.
It was nice of you to come round.
I always felt that, with everything that happened, I never really got the chance to tell you how sorry I was about what happened to Ray.
Well, it's not been easy for me, knowing that he was so desperate and that we couldn't help him.
Thanks.
Look, I can't speak about the allegations against him, but from my point of view, he was a good friend.
Yeah.
There was a lot I wanted to say about how he was treated.
It's not worth it, Steve.
I know what's been happening with you, and it's not worth it.
The job meant everything to Ray, too.
But it wasn't more important than his children than his life.
Debs? Are you watching the local news? I think the timing's a bit too convenient.
Where was it? They're carrying out a dig at a spot in Ramsbury.
I think this has come from some information passed on by Halliwell's probation officer.
the boot in the water which we have recovered.
So, you were walking along the lane and? Scoping the ponds as to which I thought would be most likely to deposit property.
Why now? They've done nothing over the last 18 months and then suddenly, "Look what a great job we're doing.
" I reckon they're worried about backlash over the way you've been treated.
He says that numerous items have been recovered.
Mm.
One of 60, I heard.
60? This could be what you've been waiting for, Steve.
Yeah, I know.
Bollocks.
- What? - I handed in my resignation.
I'm no longer a police officer.