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Alderney murder suspect transferred to Guernsey for questioning

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 12:05 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Alderney Police Transfer Suspect

Alderney police transferred a 44-year-old man to Guernsey for murder questioning.
Channel Islands Air Search sighted a person in the water at the cliff base at 04:28 Monday.
The deceased was identified as 34-year-old Hannah Benfield (née Cox).
Police said Alderney’s first suspected murder in 30 years prompted a cordon and shop closures.
Police asked anyone with dash-cam footage from Rue De Longis between 19:30-23:00 on 27 September to contact Guernsey Police.

Summary

RNLI Joins Rescue

Specialist family liaison officers agreed to release the victim’s identity and photograph.
The victim’s family asked the public to respect their privacy while they process the incident.
Detective Superintendent Jonathan Bancroft urged people to avoid speculation on social media during the enquiry.
The liaison team will keep the family updated as the investigation progresses.
Bailiwick emergency services, the RNLI and the French Coast Guard conducted joint rescue operations.

History

Historical Context

Stephen Lawrence’s 1993 murder led to the 1999 Macpherson Report, which labeled the Metropolitan Police institutionally racist and spurred reforms such as the 2005 double-jeopardy change. That legacy of scrutiny informs today’s policing; in September 2024 Alderney officers transferred a suspect to Guernsey, with Detective Superintendent Jonathan Bancroft, the RNLI and French Coast Guard coordinating the response.

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Alderney Police Transfer Suspect

Alderney police transferred a 44-year-old man to Guernsey for murder questioning.
Channel Islands Air Search sighted a person in the water at the cliff base at 04:28 Monday.
The deceased was identified as 34-year-old Hannah Benfield (née Cox).
Police said Alderney’s first suspected murder in 30 years prompted a cordon and shop closures.
Police asked anyone with dash-cam footage from Rue De Longis between 19:30-23:00 on 27 September to contact Guernsey Police.

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