Lancashire Police release statement in response to Southport inquiry - in full

Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were murdered when Rudakubana entered the Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in The Hart Space, armed with a knife, on July 29 2024.

The killer, then 17, also attempted to murder eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.

Sir Adrian Fulford’s report concluded there had been a “fundamental failure” by agencies to act on the risk posed by Axel Rudakubana.

Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett said: “Lancashire Constabulary accepts that there was an opportunity to arrest AR on 17 March 2022, and that we did not adequately assess the risk he posed to others. I am extremely sorry for this.”

The full statement from Lancashire Constabulary statement reads:

First and foremost, I continue to extend our sincere condolences to the families of the three children killed in the attack: Elsie, Alice and Bebe, and to those who continue to cope with the injuries they sustained on that terrible day. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering they must endure each day.

I fully appreciate that they want answers and to understand the circumstances that led up to the attack.

AR is responsible for his devastating actions on that day which inflicted such terrible pain, however, there is learning for all agencies involved with him over many years, including Lancashire Constabulary.

Lancashire Constabulary approached the Inquiry with candour, humility, reflection and a genuine desire to learn and improve.

In all their interactions with AR and his family, Lancashire Constabulary officers were motivated by a genuine desire to help, and this has been reflected in the Inquiry report.

The Inquiry process enabled us to examine and reflect in depth about our involvement with him in the preceding years.

Lancashire Constabulary accepts that there was an opportunity to arrest AR on 17 March 2022, and that we did not adequately assess the risk he posed to others. I am extremely sorry for this.

I fully accept all the recommendations made for Lancashire Constabulary these include, but are not limited to, record keeping and risk assessment, the better sharing of information between partner agencies, improvements in training, and improvements in the availability of effective technology for frontline officers.

Whilst some recommendations sit with Lancashire Constabulary, there are more systemic issues for policing nationally to consider, along with partner agencies.

We will now take time to read the report in detail and to carefully consider its recommendations.

I want to thank Sir Adrian Fulford and the Inquiry Team for their time and effort in reaching these conclusions today.

Whilst today marks an important step towards finding the answers that the bereaved families and survivors have waited for, it cannot lessen the depth of their pain or the weight of their loss. My hope is that, in time, they find space for healing and moments of peace whilst facing life without their children.