Reasons why the police took one month to change stance:
Jeremy phoned the police:
It is not often someone commits a crime and then phones and meets the police a few minutes later.
It is rare for a son to kill five members of his immediate family:
The police knew nothing about Jeremy or his family. However he would have seemed perfectly presentable and polite.
Sheila had been painted as the only suspect:
'Nutter, do lally, depressive pyschotic, should be locked up, knows how to use guns, looney. Within a few hours the police would only have one suspect.
Jeremy was co operating with the police:
Why would the police suspect someone who was being so co-operative. They would be sympathetic as he had lost his family.
The police knew nothing about Bamber's motives:
They just knew about Sheila's condition.
Taff Jones refused to change stance:
Some policemen and the relatives suspected Jeremy early on. But were knocked back by Taff Jones. Without reason.
The crime scene took time to process:
Days or weeks. It takes time for experts to process forensic evidence. The police also need to look at circumstantial evidence. Both these need to be interpreted by the police and decisions made.
Julie Mugford approached the police after one month:
There are several reasons why. Thread already created.
Jeremy's reaction after the massacre:
His erratic behaviour and lavish spending after the massacre made the police suspicious. However his erratic behaviour was over a period of one month.
The crime was unprecedented:
The judge said the police were lead expertly by Jeremy. In a crime they had never experienced before.
Waiting for the silencer results:
A very important piece of forensic evidence. Which the lab technicians took several weeks to process.
The police need to be sure:
To incorrectly charge a man who has lost his family would result in even more severe media criticism. They had to be sure before arresting Jeremy.