Serial killers could stop murders

By Neil Bennett BBC crime correspondent

The police plan to interview every serial killer in Britain's prisons is part of a unique research project to prevent murder.

Detectives believe by analysing past crimes they can identify patterns and common features which will help future investigators.

The FBI in America has done a lot of work on psychological profiling of serial killers but the work here will do more than that.

Where possible the interviews will be carried out by the original investigating detective, a behavioural psychologist and a crime analyst.

Police say convicted killers can help profile potential murders

They want to know how the killers selected their victims, the place of attack and how they initially avoided detection.

For example, what were the killers picking up from what they read and saw about the police investigation into their offences?

By understanding this, detectives hope to be able to make earlier arrests in future serial killings.

The police will need Home Office permission to speak to Britain's most notorious criminals.

Likely interviewees

Although they will not confirm who they will be approaching, the names of Britain's mercifully few serials killers are well known - Ian Brady, Peter Sutcliffe, Denis Nilsen and Rose West.

The researchers believe that lives can be saved Police to interview mass killers

Some are less well known but will be of equal interest.

Colin Ireland was jailed in 1994 for the murder of five gay men.

John Duffy and David Mulcahy were partners in crime in the 1980s when they killed and raped women in what was called a "wicked bond".

And more recently Anthony Hardy was jailed for life last year for murdering three prostitutes.

The police know many will say no but hope some offenders will speak to them, especially if it has been some time since they were convicted.

Preventative action

This is just one of 13 types of murder which are being analysed by Scotland Yard on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo).

The others include "honour" killings when someone is murdered for breaching cultural or religious expectations, ritual killings, contract murders and stranger attacks on lone females.

They also include the murders of sex workers, homophobic murders, killings by mental patients, murders of older people (65 + years), domestic murders, murders where knives were used and murder by arson.

Work on domestic murder is well advanced and the police have already drawn up a risk assessment model which identifies factors which can lead from assault to actual murder.

Police can take action before the fatal attack takes place.

The aim to produce a new chapter on murder prevention for the Acpo Murder Manual - a guide to best practice for every police force in England and Wales.

Senior detectives throughout the country have been asked to share their experiences.

The researchers believe that lives can be saved.