This aerial view of Robert Pickton's farm in Port Coquitlam, B.C., was taken by police during their investigation in 2002. This aerial view of Robert Pickton's farm in Port Coquitlam, B.C., was taken by police during their investigation in 2002. (Canadian Press)There will be a public inquiry into the flawed police investigation that allowed serial killer Robert Pickton to continue hunting sex workers, B.C. Attorney General Mike de Jong said Thursday.

The province has ordered hearings to examine how police handled reports of women disappearing from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and being lured to Pickton's farm in nearby Port Coquitlam.

Police reaction

RCMP

"The RCMP is pleased with the attorney general's announcement that there will be a public inquiry into the missing women's investigation. As previously stated, this is a decision we certainly have been welcoming.

This comprehensive, independent and impartial review of the entire investigation is the only way to determine the facts of what could have been done better. It is our hope that this process, while very difficult, will result in a sense of final closure for the families of the victims.

The RCMP believe that this process is the best way to learn from the missing women investigation and to obtain meaningful recommendations that we can apply as a whole in policing to improve our services to communities in B.C."

Vancouver police

"The [Vancouver Police Department] welcomes the provincial government’s announcement of a public inquiry into the Pickton investigation. There is significant public interest in an impartial examination of all the facts surrounding this tragedy.

The families and loved ones of Pickton’s victims deserve to know why it took so long to arrest him.

In addition, this is an opportunity to examine any systemic barriers to the most effective policing in the Lower Mainland and to look for solutions so that some good might come out of such sadness."

"This is a situation in which upwards of 50 human beings went missing. We believe many if not all of those individuals were murdered," de Jong told reporters following a provincial cabinet meeting in Victoria.

"There are still lingering questions about the nature of these investigations, questions about whether more could have been done sooner; are we in a position to learn from the investigations and mistakes that may have been made.

"The government has taken the view that the best vehicle by which that can be accomplished is a public inquiry."

De Jong declined to reveal who will oversee the inquiry, which will have the power to compel testimony from witnesses. Public inquiries are governed by legislation but the government is not compelled to take any advice or recommendations that come out of an inquiry.

It has not been made clear how soon the Pickton inquiry might begin.

Pickton was convicted of murdering six women between the late 1990s and 2002. He had been charged with another 20 killings, but the Crown chose only to prosecute the cases that would most likely to lead to conviction.

He was convicted of six second-degree murder charges in 2007.

Maggie Devries's sister Sarah was one of the 33 women whose DNA or remains police say were found on the Pickton farm. She had gone missing in 1998. Devries said Thursday that victims' families need an inquiry.

"Robert Pickton is one part of the problem," Devries told CBC News. "What went wrong with the investigation is the other part."

Kate Gibson, executive director of the Women's Education and Safe House in Vancouver, was very pleased about the announced inquiry.

"I think it's just huge that they will be doing this," she said. "I think for all kinds of individuals, this is a very necessary next step."

Police knew of Pickton

It was revealed in July that in 1997, police and the Crown had strong reason to suspect the Port Coquitlam pig farmer was involved in the slayings of sex workers from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, but did not pursue an investigation.

In August, Vancouver police admitted they made a number of serious mistakes in the investigation and also laid blame on the RCMP, which has police jurisdiction in Port Coquitlam.

Pickton did not testify at his 2007 trial.Pickton did not testify at his 2007 trial. (CBC)The RCMP has not publicly responded to the Vancouver police statement.

After Pickton was arrested in 2002, police conducted a massive search of his sprawling farm and found the remains or DNA of 33 women.

But the extensive investigation that followed the discovery of dismembered bodies and personal items from missing women stood in contrast to what many, including the victims' families, have long complained was the failure of Vancouver police and the RCMP to catch Pickton sooner.

Pickton's convictions were upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada in July and prosecutors have said they don't intend to pursue any further criminal charges.

With files from The Canadian Press