The People’s Hunt for Kevin Parle

When I launched my hunt for Kevin Parle in April 2019, I was armed with a pen, a notebook, my mobile phone, and a handful of flyers. As I handed these around a pub in Liverpool, many people said to me, ‘Kevin who? I’ve never heard of him.’

Now, nearly 22 months later, thanks to our hugely successful BBC podcast, ‘Manhunt; Finding Kevin Parle’, and my book, ‘Manhunt’, millions of people know his name, and are aware of the murders he is wanted for. Bless the souls of Liam and Lucy.

Bit by bit, download by download, we are shrinking the world for Kevin Parle. However, none of this would have been achieved without the engagement and help from you, the wonderful public, wheresoever in the world you may be. You have contacted me in your droves with information, and whether that be detail from many years ago, or more recent intelligence about Parle and those who harbour him, it has all been equally valuable. Thousands of you have shared and retweeted my social media posts. Many of you have put my flyers and posters on display in your workplaces. Some of you have bought mugs, coasters, T shirts and facemasks with Parle’s image on them. And countless people have used word of mouth to raise the awareness of Kevin Parle and the crimes he remains wanted for.

When he is captured, so many of you will rightly be able to say, ‘I did my bit’, so today, in order to recognise the wonderful and ongoing help that I am receiving, I have renamed this search as ‘The People’s Hunt for Kevin Parle’.

Clearly, we still have work to do, for the handcuffs have not yet been slapped on. Please continue to spread the word as far and as wide as you can. Retweet and share this and any future postings about Parle. If you know of a Facebook group, a book club, a true crime community, or any individual or organisation that I could engage with, please send me their details. I am particularly keen to engage with such groups in Ireland, Dubai, Thailand, Western Australia and Spain. If you would like some flyers to hand out, or a poster to put on the wall, simply drop me a line and I’ll pop them in the post to you. I can of course send you electronic versions of these.

My current engagement with law enforcement, both at home and abroad, gives me cause for optimism, which is good, because I have always believed that Parle’s capture is far more likely to happen if the hunt for him is a collaborative effort. The National Crime Agency have given this statement today;

NCA Director of Investigations Nikki Holland said: “Kevin Parle remains on our most wanted list and a subject of Operation Captura, a campaign which has so far led to the arrests of 85 out of 95 named fugitives. The NCA has a global reach and we do not give up. We are determined to do everything in our power to track down those outstanding, no matter how long it takes. We continue to work with Merseyside Police and other partners to locate Parle, and would ask anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

Merseyside Police have released this statement;

STATEMENT FOLLOWING QUERY FROM PETER BLEKSLEY IN RELATION TO RELAUNCH OF HIS CAMPAIGN TO FIND KEVIN PARLE

DCI Siobhan Gainer, said: “Merseyside Police is committed to finding justice for the families of 16-year-old Liam Kelly, who was fatally shot as he got out of a friend’s car in Dingle on Saturday 19 June, 2004, and Lucy Hargreaves, who tragically lost her life at the age of 22, when she was shot in her home in Walton on 3 August 2005.

“Kevin Parle is wanted by Merseyside Police for both these murders. He remains outstanding and the force is offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

“We believe he may be living abroad and there is a European arrest warrant out for his arrest.

“Parle is described as white, 6ft 5in tall with a broad build. He has blue eyes, ginger hair and a 1” scar on the left side of his head.

“I know over the years people move away and loyalties change and I would call on those people, who could have crucial information, do the right thing and come forward to us, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. I’d like to reassure them that there are special measures that we can put in place to protect witnesses in serious cases such as this. Someone, somewhere can help us find justice for both of these victims, whose lives were callously cut short, and their families.”

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Kevin Parle is asked to contact @MerPolCC, 101 or @CrimestoppersUK.

This statement from Merseyside Police is very important on a number of fronts. Firstly, the reward is now offered for information leading to his arrest only. Previously it was dependant upon conviction as well, something I have long argued with them was unfair. That condition clearly is no longer attached to the reward.

Secondly, they say that they believe Parle may be living abroad. I’ve told them that he is on more than one occasion. They may of course have their own sources.

There is now a European Arrest Warrant out for Parle. I have previously pointed out to them that there wasn’t one.

These are fantastic developments, and yet more evidence that the world is shrinking for Kevin Parle.

Once again, I send you all my heartfelt thanks for everything you have done, and will continue to do in the future. You can always contact me through the usual means – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or my website, www.peterbleksley.com.

Kevin Parle will be found…