New Developments in Security Probes
Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London has officially reopened an investigation into an April 2025 incident at the home of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. The decision comes as part of the broader, ongoing investigation into the murder of Ann Widdecombe, the 78-year-old former Conservative minister and party spokesperson who was found dead at her Devon home last month.
The incident at Mr. Farage’s property involved a lit incendiary device being posted through his letterbox. At the time, the Reform leader described the event as an “outright arson attempt,” noting that the device burned itself out on his porch while he was away. Metropolitan Police and CTP London had initially investigated the matter as an attempted burglary, but the case was subsequently closed with no arrests made.
The IOPC Referral
The decision to revisit the Farage case follows the identification of a specific line of inquiry that was not pursued during the initial 2025 investigation. Senior National Co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, confirmed that the force has made a mandatory conduct referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) regarding a CTP London staff member. The referral concerns an allegation that the employee failed to identify and pursue relevant evidence during the original inquiry.
An IOPC spokesperson confirmed that they have initiated an independent investigation into the conduct of the staff member. CTP London has pledged to engage “fully and comprehensively” with the watchdog’s process. The force also stated that victims and families involved in both the Widdecombe murder case and the Farage incident have been updated regarding these developments.
Broader Context of the Widdecombe Murder
The reopening of the arson probe is intrinsically linked to the high-profile murder investigation of Ann Widdecombe. Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has been charged with her murder. Mr. Kerry was initially arrested on suspicion of murder on July 11, 2026, and was later additionally arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. He is currently awaiting trial, with a provisional date set for June 8, 2027, at the Old Bailey.
The complexity of the Widdecombe investigation has necessitated a thorough review of past incidents involving high-profile political figures associated with Reform UK, leading to the discovery of the missed evidence in the Farage case. As the legal proceedings against Mr. Kerry move toward the 2027 trial, the watchdog’s probe into the handling of the 2025 arson attempt remains a significant point of accountability for the CTP.