The family of a British toddler at the centre of a decades-old Australian cold case has publicly criticised the handling of the investigation, prompting the UK Home Office to urge full cooperation between British and Australian authorities. The case, which remains unsolved, involves the disappearance of two-year-old Lily Thompson from her family’s holiday rental near Sydney in 1998.
Speaking through a solicitor in London, the child’s mother, Sarah Thompson, expressed frustration over what she described as a “lack of urgency” in the Australian police’s pursuit of new leads. “We have waited 26 years for answers. The Metropolitan Police and the Home Office have offered support, but we feel the Australian Federal Police have not prioritised this case,” she said.
A spokesperson for the Home Office confirmed that Minister for Policing and Crime, David Wighton, has written to his Australian counterpart, urging “immediate and comprehensive collaboration” to review evidence and deploy modern forensic techniques. The letter, obtained by The Guardian, states that “the British government stands ready to assist in any capacity to bring closure to this family.”
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) defended their record, noting that the case remains open and has been reviewed multiple times with the assistance of UK law enforcement. However, they acknowledged that advances in DNA analysis and digital forensics may offer new opportunities. “We are committed to working with our British partners to explore all avenues,” a spokesperson said.
Relations between the two countries have been strained in recent years over disagreements on extradition and intelligence sharing. The Home Office’s intervention signals a desire to reaffirm the “Five Eyes” alliance’s operational effectiveness, particularly in cases involving minors.
Legal experts suggest that international cold cases often founder on jurisdictional issues. Professor James Hartley of King’s College London noted, “The challenge is that each country has its own protocols for evidence handling and resource allocation. Political pressure can help, but it does not guarantee progress.”
The Thompson family has launched a crowdfunding campaign to hire private investigators, raising over £100,000. They have also called for a public inquiry into the original investigation’s conduct.
Detective Superintendent Kate Roberts of the Metropolitan Police’s Cold Case Unit confirmed that a liaison officer has been appointed to facilitate information exchange. “We treat this with the utmost seriousness. The family’s suffering is immeasurable, and we will do everything in our power to assist,” she said.
The Australian Prime Minister’s office declined to comment on the Home Office letter, but a spokesman said that “the AFP has the full confidence of the government.”
