LONDON — The Metropolitan Police is facing renewed scrutiny over its handling of the Simon Levy case, after serious failures involving a convicted sex offender were acknowledged following his conviction for murdering two women and raping another.

Levy, who has received a whole-life prison sentence, was previously known to authorities. The case has raised questions about why he remained in the community and how information about the risks he posed was handled by different agencies.

The latest criticism has intensified concerns about how vulnerable people are protected when multiple public bodies share responsibility for monitoring offenders.

Mina Smallman, whose daughters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman were murdered in north London in 2020, has strongly criticised the Metropolitan Police's approach. She said the force had effectively decided "who matters" when dealing with victims and their families.

The case has also exposed wider questions involving the police, probation services and other agencies, with Sir Mark Rowley acknowledging failures while pointing to shortcomings beyond the Met itself.

For the Metropolitan Police, the controversy comes at a time when public confidence and institutional accountability remain major concerns. The case is likely to increase pressure for clearer information-sharing, stronger offender monitoring and better protection for victims.

The wider issue extends beyond one police force. When high-risk offenders are released or remain in the community, effective coordination between criminal-justice agencies is critical.

The Simon Levy case is therefore likely to become an important test of whether lessons from previous safeguarding failures have genuinely been implemented. Families and campaigners will be watching closely for evidence that institutional weaknesses are addressed rather than simply acknowledged after serious harm has occurred.