Judge Slams Police Investigation Delays in Child Poisoning Case

A judge has condemned “frankly horrifying” delays by Cambridgeshire Police that allowed a case involving a mother who injected her daughter with insulin to languish for over seven years before reaching court. Judge Philip Grey described the investigation as having an “unacceptable lack of grip,” noting that several officers involved had taken long-term sick leave. He stated that any “competent” organization should be capable of managing such personnel issues.

The defendant, a woman in her 20s with a history of mental health issues, pleaded guilty to administering a poison or noxious substance with intent. She received a suspended 18-month jail sentence.

Cambridge Crown Court heard that the child, then 16 months old, was hospitalized in 2019 after her mother injected her with insulin. The mother administered two further insulin injections to the child while she was still hospitalized. Fortunately, the child recovered fully.

During the sentencing, Judge Grey acknowledged the valuable work of Cambridgeshire Police but emphasized the extraordinary length of the delay, stating, “it was frankly horrifying that it took over seven years to bring this case to court.” He added that while judges are accustomed to delays, this instance was “off the scale.”

The case comes amidst reports of a significant increase in court backlogs. Last week, it was reported that the courts backlog had surged by over 100,000 cases since the Labour party came to power, reaching a record high of more than 460,000 cases. Delays, sometimes spanning years, have led to justice being denied in some instances, with victims, including those of sexual assault, withdrawing from the legal process due to its protracted and distressing nature.

According to Ministry of Justice figures, as of the end of June, there were 80,829 cases awaiting trial in Crown courts in England and Wales, and an additional 380,230 cases in magistrates’ courts, marking a nine percent increase over the year. This brings the total backlog to 461,059, an increase of 98,725 from the end of June 2024.

Labour has proposed controversial reforms to the court system, including the potential abolition of the right to jury trial for thousands of cases annually in an effort to reduce the backlog. The Courts and Tribunals Bill, which outlines these changes, is expected to return to Parliament next month. Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy has criticized these proposals, arguing that Labour has prioritized altering the right to a jury trial over addressing the crisis itself.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police acknowledged the judge's remarks, stating, “We acknowledge and agree with the judge's comments that the delay in this case was unacceptable.” The spokesperson added, “Our aim is to ensure that all cases progress with the timeliness required for victims, families, and the wider criminal justice process.” The force has implemented changes to provide better supervisory oversight and continuity for complex investigations to prevent similar delays in the future.