Dad’s anger at police ‘conspiracy of silence’ over missing daughter

A dad has blasted police for keeping secret documents he believes are key to unlocking the mystery of his daughter’s disappearance.

Katrice Lee vanished 32 years ago, while her mum bought crisps for her second birthday at a shop near a German military camp on November 28, 1981.

Her father, former soldier Richard, has fought a three-decade battle with the authorities forcing the military police to admit their initial investigation was flawed.

An independent review was carried out in 2002 by South Wales Police into the Royal Military Police’s (RMP) initial handling of the case.

But more than a decade after it was completed both South Wales Police and the RMP are refusing to hand over any details of their investigation to Katrice’s distraught family.

Richard’s MP, Iain Wright, a former Children’s Minister, is now demanding the review findings are made public under Freedom of Information laws.

Mr Lee, of Hartlepool, said: “I’ve been told I’d never get to see the South Wales Police findings.

“I’m angry and frustrated because, as the father of a missing daughter, I have had to fight for any information every inch of the way.

“It has been 32 long years and this cements my belief that there is a conspiracy of silence.

“I believe the flaws in the original investigation, which will be shown up in these case files, could lead to us finding Katrice.”

On the day she vanished, the tot was with mum Sharon, shopping for snacks for her birthday party at a NAAFI store near the army camp where the family were stationed in Paderborn, Germany.

Mr Lee said investigating officers continually dismissed their claims their little girl had been snatched.

Instead, police believed Katrice had run off and fallen in a river.

Mr Lee, who was 64 on Thursday, said: “We were in shock but we did mention that the gypsy site near to the camp should be checked out.

“I still don’t know how far they went to check that out.”

He added: “I think it is wrong they have had a police-on-police review in the first place. There should be an independent inquiry.”

Last year, the Ministry of Defence admitted in Parliament that the initial investigation was “flawed”, prompting further calls from the Lee family for answers.

South Wales Police have been repeatedly asked, on the family’s behalf, to disclose its review findings but said the case files had been passed to the RMP, which has also refused to release them.

Iain Wright MP has now submitted an FoI Act request to South Wales Police to provide a summary of the review findings.

A spokesman for South Wales Police confirmed the force had received Mr Wright’s FoI request and that it would respond within the 20 working days’ legal deadline.

He said: “It’d be inappropriate to comment further until then.”

An MoD spokesperson said: “Our thoughts continue to be with the family of Katrice Lee and the RMP investigation team are in regular contact with them.

“While the investigation continues it’d be inappropriate to comment further.”

Family ‘bombarded with vile taunts’

Richard Lee is set to become a figurehead in a police cyber-bullying campaign.

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Ron Hogg, has enlisted him to give talks to schools about online abuse.

His family was bombarded with vile taunts from a woman claiming to be long-lost Katrice.

In March, Donna Wright, of Spennymoor, County Durham, admitted harassing the family on Facebook but was spared a jail sentence.

Mr Lee said: “I’ll tell my story and the effect it had on my family so children can understand the devastation pressing the ‘send’ button can create.”