Force to investigate handling of Victoria Hall case

A watchdog has advised a police force to investigate its handling of the initial Victoria Hall murder inquiry between 1999 and 2001.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had received a referral from Suffolk Police of complaints related to its investigation into the murder of the 17-year-old in 1999.

Serial killer Steve Wright was sentenced to 40 years last month for the kidnap and murder at the Old Bailey in London.

The IOPC said the referral related to the initial investigation, when Adrian Bradshaw was acquitted of the murder in 2001, and it had advised the force that its professional standards department should investigation any failings, which the force said was progressing.

"In February 2026, we received a referral from Suffolk Constabulary of complaints relating to its investigation into the murder of Victoria Hall in 1999, which resulted in a man being arrested and charged," an IOPC spokesperson said.

"The complaints relate to the force's investigation, disclosure of evidence during criminal proceedings, and comments made by the force following the man's acquittal in 2001.

"We decided that an investigation into the complaints is required and that this should be carried out by the force's professional standards department to identify any failings between 1999 and 2001.

"We also noted that the force appeared to be treating the matter seriously having apologised to the man and advising him of his right to make a complaint.

"The complainant will have a right of review to the IOPC should they be dissatisfied with the outcome of the complaint investigation."

Victoria disappeared near her home in Trimley St Mary after she had been at a nightclub with a friend.

Her naked body was found five days later in a water-filled ditch at Creeting St Peter, about 25 miles (40km) away.

In December 2000, police charged 26-year-old Bradshaw with her murder. He denied the charges.

Following his trial in 2001 at Norwich Crown Court, he was acquitted by the jury.

Police then reopened the investigation into her death in 2019 before Wright, 67, was then charged in 2024.

Wright was already serving a whole life term in prison for the murders of five women in Ipswich in 2006.

At the Old Bailey last month, after he admitted Victoria's murder and kidnap as well as the attempted kidnap of 22-year-old Emily Doherty the night before, Wright was handed a 40-year prison sentence.

The lead detective in the original 1999 investigation, retired Det Supt Roy Lambert, refused to answer the BBC's questions about his handling of the initial case but said he was "very pleased" with Wright's conviction.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Police said: "Following a self-referral by the force to the IOPC regarding the initial investigation into the murder of Victoria Hall in 1999, the IOPC responded by advising an internal investigation by the force's Professional Standards Department would be appropriate. This investigation is progressing."

Lambert has been approached for comment.