When the Information Was Already There

Evidence heard at the inquest into the deaths of Michelle Pearson and four of her children raises troubling questions about how police information was recorded, shared and acted upon before the fatal Walkden firebombing.

13 October 2026

Sir,

At the inquest into the deaths of Michelle Pearson and four of her children, evidence has emerged of information that was available to police but did not reach those responsible for deciding what happened next.

We cannot know that a different decision would have prevented what happened in Walkden. Nor should an inquest still hearing evidence be decided by those of us reading about it afterwards. But the evidence heard so far allows a simpler question.

Zak Bolland was arrested after smashing windows at Michelle's home. He was already serving a suspended prison sentence and had previously been given a “last chance” by a judge. The inquest has heard that neither his previous convictions nor that sentence were checked when police interviewed him.

Michelle had received messages threatening to firebomb her home. The interviewing officer said he had not known about them. He was also told that Michelle would not support a prosecution. She contacted police to tell them that she would, but the decision to take no further action was not reviewed.

Less than two weeks after Bolland's interview and release, the fatal firebombing took place.

Police already held information that might have changed how the case was handled. Bolland's suspended sentence, the threats against Michelle and her subsequent willingness to support a prosecution all mattered. Yet the evidence heard at the inquest suggests that crucial details were either missed or never reconsidered.

We spend enormous effort collecting information throughout the criminal justice system. Convictions are recorded, sentences are imposed, complaints are logged, and statements are taken. Yet information that exists somewhere is of little use at the moment it is needed if it stops somewhere along the way.

The frightening thing about the evidence heard so far is not how little information there appears to have been. It is how much information appears to have existed.

R. D. Kerr