Ann Widdecombe Inquiry: Counter-Terror Police Reopen Attempted Burglary Probe

Counter-terrorism police have reopened an investigation into an alleged attempted burglary at a London address as part of wider inquiries following the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe.

The development has raised fresh questions about whether an earlier line of inquiry was properly pursued after the incident was reported in April 2025.

No arrests were made in connection with the attempted burglary at the time, and the investigation was subsequently closed pending any new evidence or lines of inquiry.

However, Counter Terrorism Policing London said on Friday that investigators had now identified a line of inquiry which had not been pursued when the original investigation was carried out.

The force has also made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the handling of the original investigation.

Questions over the original investigation

According to Counter Terrorism Policing, the Metropolitan Police received a report concerning an attempted burglary at an address in Greater London in April last year.

The initial investigation involved both the Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing London.

The police watchdog is now investigating allegations that a member of Counter Terrorism Policing London staff failed to identify and pursue a relevant line of inquiry connected to the attempted burglary.

The reopening of the investigation does not, by itself, establish any connection between the attempted burglary and the death of Widdecombe. Any such connection remains a matter for investigators to establish.

The development nevertheless places renewed scrutiny on the earlier handling of the case.

Ann Widdecombe death

The investigation comes after the death of former Conservative MP and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead at her home in Devon last month.

Widdecombe, 78, was found with serious injuries.

A man, Joshua Kerry, from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, was subsequently charged with her murder.

Kerry was initially arrested on suspicion of murder on 11 July. Two days later, he was additionally arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

The terrorism element of the investigation has added a further layer of complexity to a case that has attracted significant public attention.

Authorities have not established publicly that the reopened London burglary investigation is directly connected to Widdecombe's death, and investigators will now be expected to establish what relevance, if any, the new line of inquiry has.

IOPC investigation

The referral to the IOPC means the police watchdog will examine the circumstances surrounding the original investigation.

The IOPC has said it is investigating allegations that a member of Counter Terrorism Policing London staff failed to identify and pursue a line of inquiry relating to the attempted burglary.

Such scrutiny is important because investigations depend not only on the evidence eventually uncovered but also on whether reasonable lines of inquiry are identified and followed at the appropriate time.

The reopening of the case demonstrates why those decisions can matter long after an investigation has apparently come to an end.

At this stage, however, it is important to distinguish between an allegation about investigative handling and any finding of wrongdoing. The IOPC investigation must establish what happened and whether any individual or organisation failed to meet the required standards.

A former minister and long-serving MP

Widdecombe was one of the most recognisable Conservative politicians of her generation.

She represented Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and held ministerial positions during the government of former Prime Minister John Major in the 1990s.

After leaving Parliament, she remained a prominent public figure and later became associated with Reform UK, serving as one of the party's prominent spokespeople.

Her death has therefore attracted attention well beyond her former constituency and political career.

The latest police development is likely to intensify scrutiny of the wider investigation, particularly as authorities examine whether previously overlooked information could be relevant.

The investigation continues

The reopening of the attempted burglary inquiry should not be interpreted as proof that investigators have established a direct link to the Widdecombe case.

Instead, it represents a decision by counter-terrorism investigators to revisit an earlier investigation after identifying a line of inquiry that they say was not pursued at the time.

That distinction is crucial.

In a case involving a high-profile former politician, public interest can quickly turn into speculation. The responsibility now lies with investigators to establish the facts, follow the evidence and determine whether the reopened inquiry has any bearing on the circumstances surrounding Widdecombe's death.

The IOPC investigation will separately examine the handling of the original burglary inquiry.

For now, several important questions remain unanswered: What was the missed line of inquiry? Why was it not pursued at the time? And does the newly identified information have any relevance to the wider investigation?

Those are questions investigators and the police watchdog will now have to address.

As the inquiries continue, the focus must remain on evidence rather than speculation — and on ensuring that every credible line of inquiry is properly examined.