Police extend Shipman probe

Shipman practised in West Yorkshire early in his career

Police are to investigate the deaths of patients who came under the care of serial killer GP Harold Shipman early in his career.

Police officials confirmed on Wednesday that detectives are to investigate all 22 deaths certified by Shipman when he worked as a GP in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, for 18 months during the 1970s.

A West Yorkshire police spokesman said officers would be liaising with colleagues in Greater Manchester.

Shipman was found guilty of at Preston Crown Court in January 2000 of murdering 15 people.

But a report by Professor Richard Baker published by Department of Health last month suggested that the doctor could have been responsible for the deaths of 236 or more of his patients over a 24-year period.

Speculation

The West Yorkshire police spokesman said: "Following the publication of Professor Baker's report and continued media speculation, West Yorkshire police is widening its investigation to include all 22 patient deaths certified by Shipman during his time in Todmorden.

"West Yorkshire officers will continue to work closely with officers from Greater Manchester Police, based at the incident room in Ashton-under-Lyne. This process is likely to take some time."

Shipman worked in Todmorden between 1974 and 1976.

He moved to Hyde in 1977 and stayed there until his arrest.

All his murder convictions relate to patients he treated while based in Hyde.

Shipman gave the mostly elderly women lethal doses of diamorphine, the medical term for heroin.