James Bulger investigation cop to deliver lecture in Birmingham

Nov 24 2009 by Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

THE top detective responsible for tracking down the killers of tragic toddler Jamie Bulger is to deliver a high-profile lecture to students in Birmingham.

Albert Kirby will visit Birmingham City University next Tuesday to give an in-depth talk to students and officers from West Midlands Police.

It is the second in a series of lecturers organised as part of a new criminal investigation degree at the Perry Barr-based university.

The three-year course, the first of its kind in the country, starts next September in conjunction with West Midlands Police.

Officials hope to attract more than 100 full-time students, as well as existing police officers on a part-time basis.

The lecture series began with John Bennett, senior investigating officer on the case of serial killers Fred and Rosemary West.

Mr Kirby, who left Merseyside Police after 34 years, now works for ITN as a media consultant for crime, spending several weeks in Portugal over the disappearance of Madeline McCann.

More than 150 students and police staff will attend his seminar, which will explore the issues raised by the police inquiry into the abduction and murder of Jamie Bulger, post investigation matters and the implications for policing today.

Two-year-old Jamie was killed in 1993 by ten-year-old boys Jon Venables and Robert Thompson after being abducted from outside a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside.