Operation Hummingbird - Investigation update

Today (Tuesday 20^th January, 2026) the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that it will not be charging Lucy Letby with any further offences after reviewing files of evidence that Cheshire Constabulary submitted in July 2025.

This is not the outcome that we had anticipated throughout our investigation; we were confident that we held enough evidence to take to the CPS. We submitted files for charging decisions in relation to nine babies – for consideration of nine offences of attempted murder and two of murder.

We believed the evidence submitted met the CPS charging standard.  The CPS did not agree and despite our representations we must respect the decision that has been made.

There will be some who will feel that this is news worth celebrating. We do not share this view and would ask that people respect the privacy and feelings of the families involved.

We are deeply grateful to the experts and witnesses who have contributed to this investigation. Their input has been invaluable in answering many difficult questions on behalf of the families.

Today’s announcement does not affect or undermine the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple murders and attempted murders of premature babies following an extensive investigation and two criminal trials, including one of the longest running murder trials in British criminal history and two unsuccessful appeals.

This decision by the CPS will have no impact on Operation Duet – our ongoing investigation into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital. These remain separate investigations.

Our thoughts remain with the families affected by this.