London's counter-terrorism units are revisiting a burglary attempt from April 2025. This probe is being reopened because of a possible connection to Ann Widdecombe's death.

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The IOPC investigation into CTP London staff conduct

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently reviewing the professional actions of a specific employee within Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London. This formal investigation follows an allegation that the individual failed to recgnize and act upon a significant line of inquiry during the initial probe. As reported by the source, the staff member is accused of neglecting a lead that could have been vital to the case's resolution.

This scrutiny comes after CTP London admitted that a line of inquiry, which "may have been relevant," was not pursued when the incident was first reported. the failure to act on this information has prompted both the re-opening of the burglary case and a formal review of police conduct to determine if the error was a matter of individual negligence or a broader procedural failure.

An April 2025 attempted burglary in Greater London

The original incident took place at a specific address in Greater London and was first reported to authorities in April 2025. At the time, both the Metropolitan Police and CTP London conducted a joint investigation into the attempted break-in, but the case was ultimately closed without any arrests being made.

The decision to close the case initially was based on a lack of actionable leads, a situation that has now been complicated by the discovery of the previously overlooked information. The source notes that the case was left pending only until new evidence or directions could emerge, which has now happened, forcing the Metropolitan Police to reconsider their previous conclusions.

Connecting the burglary to Ann Widdecombe’s death

The re-opened investigation is particularly sensitive because the attempted burglary is believed to be linked to the death of Ann Widdecombe. While the specific nature of this connection has not been fully detailed in the current reporting,the involvement of counter-terrorism units suggests that investigators are looking for motives that extend far beyond simple property crime.

The involvement of CTP London implies that the attempted burglary may have been part of a larger, more complex threat profile. This elevates the case from a standard local crime to a matter of national security interest,especially given the high-profile nature of the individual involved and the potential for targeted motives.

The missing details of the "relevant" inquiry

Several critical questions remain regarding why the initial investigation failed to identify the relevant lead in 2025. It is currently unknown whether the failure to pursue the inquiry was a result of human error, a lack of resources, or a systemic breakdown in communication between the Metropolitan Police and CTP London. The source does not clarify the following:

  • The exact nature of the missed "relevant" lead.
  • Whether the error was isolated to one staff member.
  • The specific connection between the burglary and the Widdecombe case.

    • It also remains unverified whether any other staff members were involved in the decision to close the case,or if the responsibility lies solely with the individual currently under investigation by the IOPC.