Wisbech detective warns violence against women must be tackled
A TV documentary into a murder in Wisbech concluded last night
Police in Wisbech are telling us they won't rest until those responsible for violent crimes in the county are found.
A double episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody has been showing how officers investigated the murder of Eliza Bibby, who was stabbed in the neck in the town in January 2023.
Jamie Boughen, of Waterlees Road in Wisbech, was found guilty of her murder and was sentenced to life in prison for the murder.
Detective Inspector Dale Mepstead, of the Beds, Cambs and Herts Major Crime Unit helped lead the investigation into Ms Bibby's death.
She said the murder highlights the need to address violence against women and girls:
"It's really something that we need to tackle as a society.
"I'm a mum of two boys and I hope I bring them up to be respectful of women, so I feel I've got a responsibility as a parent as well as a police officer to do everything I can to help change society and tackle this issue."
Complex investigation
Bibby, 47, was found by a friend lying in a pool of blood.
With a list of potential suspects and conflicting accounts, the team faced a difficult task to uncover the truth.
The investigation discovered a network of drugs activity and possible suspects during the hunt for Eliza’s killer or killers.
Det Insp Mepstead said "around 30 people" were identified to have "regularly visited Eliza to go and buy drugs".
"Some of those people had long-term addiction issues and it was difficult to try and bottom out what they were doing at the time and try to rule them in or out of whether they were involved in the murder," she said.
"People who have addiction issues are mistrustful of the police and don't necessarily want to drop themselves in being involved in any form of criminalities.
"Quite often, people would try and minimise how often they would turn up or whether they in fact even did attend Eliza's (house)."
Trust in policing
Det Insp Mepstead believes the investigation being televised shows the feeling within a local community, but also giving people more reason to have trust in police.
"I think what comes across is the human aspect of how people become addicted to drugs and in certain communities, there is almost a lack of hope and opportunity," she added.
"During this investigation, I've had to make some difficult decisions sometimes based on incomplete or little facts, so I hope people have a little faith in policing and see how we do treat people."