Reopen investigation into Croydon cat killer, police urge

The investigation into the Croydon cat killer should be reopened by police, an MP has said.

Conservative Elliot Colburn questioned the “fanciful” theory that urban foxes were behind the cat deaths, adding that pet owners are “no closer to knowing the truth”.

Fears that a serial killer is on the loose have emerged after hundreds of cats were reported to have been mutilated in the south London borough since November 2015.

Some reported finding animals decapitated, while others had their tails caught.

Six cases were deemed suspicious and required further investigation, while another 400 reports of cat mutilations were collected in and around London.

But Scotland Yard said there was “no evidence any of the cats were killed by a human” and suggested vehicle collisions could be to blame.

The Metropolitan Police closed a three-year investigation, codenamed Operation Takahe, in 2018.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Colburn (Carshalton and Wallington) said: “It started in Croydon, which is my neighboring borough, however there has been a spate of cat killings involving cat decapitation which has spread across other parts of the south. London, including Carshalton and Wallington.

“Now, there was an investigation into this and the conclusion was that it was down to urban foxes, which the owners of these cats find a bit fancy – and I have to say I agree.

“The pattern of behaviour, particularly cutting off the cat’s head and leaving it there without any evidence that the cat was eaten, does not suggest to me that it was urban foxes, it does suggest to me that there is a systematic level of abuse here.

“And I sincerely hope that the investigations can be reopened and these cat owners can have some justice and some answers about what happened to their beloved pets.”