Five Metropolitan Police officers and three former officers are being investigated for gross misconduct following the force's failings in the case of serial killer Stephen Port.
Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor all died at the hands of Port, who drugged them with overdoses of GHB and dumped their bodies near his flat in Barking, east London, between June 2014 and September 2015.
On Thursday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said eight individuals have recently been told they are being investigated for possible breaches of police professional standards relating variously to equality and diversity, duties and responsibilities, authority respect and courtesy and honesty and integrity.
IOPC regional director Steve Noonan said: "We recognise it has taken some time to reach this stage, but these are complex matters, involving multiple officers and four investigations into unexplained deaths and then the subsequent murder investigation into Port.
"Though we have found an indication that the behaviour of these eight individuals may have amounted to gross misconduct, this does not necessarily mean disciplinary proceedings will automatically follow.
"Based on the evidence, at the conclusion of our investigation we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings."
A lawyer for the families of Stephen Port’s victims said the development was testament to their “determination and perseverance”.
Hudgell Solicitors Solicitor Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: “The families of Anthony, Gabriel, Daniel and Jack very much welcome today’s announcement that eight officers are to be investigated for gross misconduct.
“Given the history of this case and frustrations of the past, they are cautiously encouraged by the reopening of the investigation, which must be seen to be full and fearless, and with the complete cooperation of the Metropolitan Police Service and the officers under scrutiny. No comment interviews simply will not do.
“This latest development is testament to the determination and perseverance the families have shown over the past eight years with regards to the Met Police’s investigations into the loss of their loved ones.
“We would not have reached this point without their dedication to ensuring to ensure full transparency and accountability.”
Met Commander Jon Savell said the force would "continue to support a re-investigation" and pointed to improvements made after advice was issued that included comments from the Met's LGBT+ Independent Advisory Group.
He added: “The deaths of these four young men is a tragedy and we are deeply sorry there were failings in our police response. Again, I give my own and the Met’s heartfelt apologies. Our thoughts are, as always, with their families and friends."
Basic errors by a string of detectives left Port free to carry out the series of murders as well as drug and sexually assault more than a dozen other men.
Inquest jurors found that "fundamental failures" by the police were likely to have contributed to the deaths of three of the men.
Port is called the “Grindr killer” as he met his victims online, through the dating app Grindr.
He lured the victims to his flat, then drugged and raped them, before dumping their bodies close by.
The murderer killed Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor between June 2014 and September 2015.
But the deaths were not seen as suspicious by police until after the fourth death - when Jon Taylor spoke to Jack's family and heard he was anti-drugs and had no reason to be in Barking, where Porter lived.
A solicitor representing the families said they believed the police’s actions were “driven by homophobia”.
Eventually, on 15 October 2015, Port was arrested on suspicion of causing the deaths of all four of his victims by administering drugs.
Jack‘s father, Colin, believes his son’s life “could have been saved” if police had "listened to all those people from the first murder".
In 2016, Port was found guilty of the murders and several sex assaults against other men in 2016, and was given a whole-life jail sentence.
The families’ solicitor Neil Hudgell said relatives had been “left traumatised by their treatment at the hands of the police”.
Commander Jon Savell's full statement says: "We continue to fully support an re-investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into the initial police response into the deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor. We are aware of the latest update from the IOPC.
“The deaths of these four young men is a tragedy and we are deeply sorry there were failings in our police response. Again, I give my own and the Met’s heartfelt apologies. Our thoughts are, as always, with their families and friends.
“The whole of the Met is committed to improving our investigations, our relationships and the trust people have in us to keep them safe. Since the deaths of Anthony, Gabriel, Daniel and Jack we continue to work hard to ensure the service we provide is better while understanding we have more to do.
“Learning and recommendations from the IOPC, His Majesty’s Coroner, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and our LGBT+ Independent Advisory Group of community members have enabled us to make a range of improvements so far. These include restoring full time LGBT+ liaison officers across the Met to focus on working with LGBT+ people and organisations in London, how we respond to and investigate unexpected deaths, and family liaison.”
