In the years since those cold, dark days of February 1994, much has been said and written about Fred and Rose West and their despicable crimes. Some of it has come from people who knew them well, including members of their own family, the rest from others further removed. Some accounts were well researched and informed, others less so, but nearly all included considerable speculation about the extent and nature of the crimes the couple were involved in and as the dreadfulness of what took place at 25 Cromwell Street over more than twenty years became apparent, it was equally clear the Wests would secure their own place in the black museum of British crime.
Since then, I have been asked many times to give my side of the story, to correct the inaccuracies of other versions and commit to print a true account of what really took place. Although I could see some merit in doing so, I shunned all previous advances partly because as the Senior Investigating Officer I felt it a chapter best left to rest and partly because I did not want to experience again the media attention I felt such a project would attract.
So why the change of heart? And why now?
Perhaps naively, I thought the public’s interest in the West Inquiry would diminish over time. In fact, every conceivable anniversary of the investigation and the events associated with it has brought fresh approaches from news organisations, whether to comment on, correct or put into context what had been said, written or reported by others. I hope this book will answer any future questions. Furthermore, I have also come to appreciate that not all senior investigating officers, and especially those involved in the more high-profile investigations, enjoy the same level of support afforded to me by my chief officers and that the rigours and challenges of real police investigations, let alone those with all the twists, turns and complexities of the Cromwell Street Inquiry, are rarely depicted to the public, for never was the expression that ‘truth is stranger than fiction’ more apt than here.
Let me be clear, this is not another book about Fred and Rose West, though they are obviously key elements. It is rather an attempt to document what I and my family experienced as well as other officers on the case and especially the courageous people who gave evidence, also the members of the organisations that became involved in the battle to bring the Wests to justice. It is hoped that now their true effort and commitment will be better understood and appreciated, and that the record finally will be ‘put straight’ concerning an investigation that owed its outcome to so many and from which many lessons have been learned. Who knows, perhaps this will be of some help to anyone unfortunate enough to go through a similar experience.
While I have been faithful to the truth and to make this as accurate an account as possible, I have tried not to betray the confidence entrusted in me, particularly by the families of the victims. They will forever remain uppermost in my thoughts. Neither would this book have been completed without the encouragement and support of Gloucestershire’s current Chief Constable Dr Tim Brain, his Deputy Craig Mackay, former Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucestershire Constabulary solicitor Richard Cawdron and especially the assistance of Inspector David Griffiths, for which I express my sincere thanks.
I would also like to thank Graham Gardner who, since joining me in this endeavour, has worked tirelessly alongside me throughout the past twenty months and to Sutton Publishing, and especially Christopher Feeney, for considering the final work worthy of publication.
Finally, and most of all, I must thank my wife and family for their never-ending understanding and uncomplaining support throughout my career and into my retirement, which has always meant so much to me.
John W. Bennett QPM
August 2005