The mother of a young Swindon woman murdered by Christopher Halliwell has described how police “incompetence” ended up “threatening her sanity” – and has called for Wiltshire Police’s chief constable to resign.

The force and chief constable Kier Pritchard apologised to Becky Godden-Edwards’ family after a report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct found there were “serious failings” in the murder investigation. 

Mr Pritchard, who recently announced his plans to retire next year, received management action when the police watchdog found he had a case to answer for misconduct. 

But Becky’s mother Karen Edwards describes this result as “a slap on the wrist” and believes Mr Pritchard should leave the force now.

The report exposed how “significant opportunities” had been missed by Wiltshire Police, and how the murder investigation achieved “little” for three years between 2011 and 2014, including failures to examine key evidence available in 2011. It took until 2016 to secure Halliwell’s conviction for Becky’s murder.

Now the force has commissioned an external review to consider whether there are any further investigative opportunities relating to other crimes Halliwell may have committed.

“I read the IOPC report with disbelief, anger and disgust to find my family should have been spared years of anguish,” Karen said.

“I shouldn’t have had to be out fighting for justice. 

“I kept thinking it was me and that all these police and barristers understood something that was beyond me. It turns out that wasn’t the case at all. Little did I know, the police were doing nothing.

“If I hadn’t made my complaints, all of this would have been swept under the carpet. It would have been their secret. 

“What gives the police the right to pick and choose who they investigate properly? Why should Becky have a third-class service?”

Halliwell was arrested for Sian O’Callaghan’s murder in 2011 at which point he confessed to killing Becky eight years earlier. 

While he was convicted of Sian’s murder in 2012, a judge initially ruled his confession to killing Becky was inadmissible as evidence.

No formal or informal reviews of the murder investigation took place for three years between May 2011 and October 2014 which, the report concludes, “cannot be accounted for”. It also appears that forensic work on the case ceased after February 2012 and did not resume again until 2014.

Key items of forensic evidence, such as soil from a spade that matched the rare soil of the field in which Becky’s body was discovered, were not analysed for up to three years after they were first seized. Witness statements were not followed up.

The IOPC report suggested that the CPS may have pursued the prosecution case in 2012 had the evidence in the police systems been highlighted at the time.

Becky’s mother Karen said the IOPC investigating officer’s findings were “unbelievable” – including the Senior Investigating Officer stating that he was asked to “babysit” the case. 

Mr Pritchard appointed lower-ranking Detective Inspector Davey to head the investigation between 2012 and 2014 but, instead of leading and making decisions, he was “doing the bidding of others”.

According to the IOPC: “This investigation has found no documentary evidence that DCS Pritchard took any steps to reassure himself that DI Davey was effectively leading the investigation.

“While DI Davey was an accredited SIO, he lacked experience and rank, and this was known to DCS Pritchard when he appointed him.”

During this period, Karen was relentlessly campaigning to get justice for her daughter.

She said: “Becky’s always been dealt the bad card. They thought they could ‘babysit’ me.

“There was no progress or action for three years. What were they doing every day? It just beggars belief.

“I’ve been left with even more questions. Can anyone explain why witnesses weren’t interviewed for years?

“I have spent the last 11 years in some kind of fight with Wiltshire Police, either fighting for justice for Becky or fighting for the truth.”

Karen says she read an impact statement to Mr Pritchard, telling him: “When Becky…[was] found in the grave after Halliwell’s arrest, the ground opened up from under me. 

“The only glimmer of hope at that time was the thought that the police would ensure that her murderer would be pursued through the court.

“I have suffered endless sleepless nights, anxiety and depression during the day, trying to rationalise what happened. 

“I wrestled with it all, going round and round in my mind until I thought I was going mad.

“Time has been stolen and this is time I can never get back.”

Wiltshire Police responds

A spokesman told the Adver: “The Chief Constable has no intention of resigning and remains fully committed to the Force until his retirement next year after 30 years’ service.”

When the report was first released, Mr Pritchard said: “This has certainly been an opportunity for deep personal reflection for me. I acknowledge that there was confusion at the time concerning the oversight of the investigation into Becky’s murder, as highlighted within the IOPC investigation. 

“This arose, in part, due to the major crime collaboration being in its infancy. For that, I am really sorry.  

 “The murder investigation was a complex case with very unique circumstances. We always strove to deliver justice for Becky's family, further to the tragic and shocking loss of their much-loved daughter.  

“I fully appreciate the grief and despair that the delay in the investigation has had on Becky's family as they have rightly sought to have justice delivered. Whilst justice was achieved, it is with deep regret that justice was delayed for Becky’s family.  

“It is of personal regret to me that there were missed opportunities identified during the investigation and I take full responsibility for any individual shortcomings.

“I am very sorry for the impact that failures in this case have had on Becky’s family.”