The families of three men who were killed by Stephen Port have received compensation from the Metropolitan Police over investigatory “failings”.
On 29 August, the force said it had settled claims with the relatives of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari and the partner of Daniel Whitworth.
From June 2014 to September 2015, Port murdered at least four men – Walgate, 23, Kovari, 22, Whitworth, 21, and Jack Taylor, 25 – before being arrested on 15 October 2015.
The following year, he received a life sentence with a whole life order, meaning he will die behind bars.
Port met his victims online (including the gay dating app Grindr) before leading them to his home in Barking, London where they were given lethal doses of a date rape drug and raped.
On 23 June, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it will re-examine how Scotland Yard investigated the murders after none of the 17 of the officers involved with the case faced disciplinary action.
The watchdog said there was evidence that the original investigation was “materially flawed”, adding that “new information” came forward at inquests last year to determine whether or not the failings of the police contributed to the deaths of Port’s victims.
An inquest jury concluded that failings by the police during the investigation of Walgate’s killing “probably” contributed to the deaths of Kovari and Whitworth.
Police failed to link the fatalities despite the striking similarities between them, such as the bodies of three victims being discovered at the same graveyard in Barking.
A coroner’s report also identified a “large number of very serious and very basic investigative failings” by police including a “lack of professional curiosity” about the cases.
Officers previously denied accusations of prejudice and homophobia, blaming their mistakes on lack of staff and resources.
A spokesperson for the Met said in a statement: “The Metropolitan Police Service has settled civil claims from the families of Anthony Walgate and Gabriel Kovari as well as the partner of Daniel Whitworth.
“We have previously apologised to the families for the police failings in this matter and understand the impact these have had and the distress caused. We apologise again now. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families as always.”
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