Independent investigation following wrongful conviction of Peter Sullivan
Factual summary of a published IOPC investigation, covering the incident, key findings and outcome.
- Published
- 2026-03-27
- Investigation type
- independent
- Force involved
- Merseyside Police
What was investigated
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating complaints linked to the Merseyside Police investigation that led to a wrongful conviction. The investigation is separate from the force’s criminal investigation into the historical case.
Key findings
- Mr Sullivan was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1987.
- He spent 38 years in prison before his conviction was quashed in May 2025.
- A DNA profile obtained in 2021 did not match Mr Sullivan’s.
- Merseyside Police confirmed it had not received complaints related to the case until January 2026.
- A referral was made to the IOPC following an interview aired by the BBC.
- The IOPC is reviewing records related to the case after receiving a complaint.
Outcome
The investigation is ongoing, focusing on the misconduct allegations related to the wrongful conviction. The IOPC aims to ensure an independent review of the matter.
Related on BlueLineHub
- Accountability hub — how oversight of UK policing works
- IOPC outcomes & learning feed
- Merseyside Police force profile
This is a factual summary of a report published by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Individuals are referred to exactly as the source report anonymises them. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the IOPC · Summarised 2026-07-13.