A PETITION has been set up asking for a public inquiry into the murder of a Cwmbran private detective more than 30 years ago.

Daniel Morgan was allegedly investigating corruption within the Metropolitan Police when, on March 10, 1987, his body was found in the car park of a London pub with an axe lodged in his head.

The petition has been set up by Mr Morgan's former business partner Jonathan Rees, who was accused of the murder together with Rees' brothers-in-law Garry Vian and Glenn Via but were cleared of any wrongdoing.

The Metropolitan Police have said that an independent panel is currently examining the circumstances of the murder of the former Croesyceiliog Grammar School pupil.

The publication of the panel’s report was due to be released by the end of this year – but has been delayed again.

Mr Rees, from Surrey, said: “It is very important that a public inquiry is done into 30 years of police misconduct and some corrupt activities.”

Mr Rees said a public inquiry has powers to call witnesses to give evidence under oath and can also request for documents to be made available.

“The independent panel has no powers to call witnesses and works in secret,” he said. “I don’t want them to work in secret, so everybody can see what was going on and there is no cheating or lying to the public.

“This is an unsolved murder for 30 years and we still have no explanation from the MET. It has been 30 years and we are not a step closer to know what happened.”

Mr Rees said that he is not hoping the public inquiry would lead to finding out who murdered Mr Morgan, but that, the Leveson or Hillsborough inquiry, it would show “the weaknesses and expose the cock-ups and incompetence”.

He added: “A public inquiry would lead to the truth – it is the only way we can hold people to account.

“It is only way we will get to the bottom of this.”

Mr Rees set up the petition on Thursday last week, and has already collected more than 50 signatures. He is hoping to collect 100,000 signatures.

The petition, which was drafted by his lawyers to be served to the Home Office, is currently not available online due to a dispute between Mr Rees, the Metropolitan Police and 38 Degrees.

A spokesman for the Home Office said the "horrific murder"of Mr Morgan and subsequent investigations were dogged by "serious allegations of police corruption".

He said: "We set up an independent panel to investigate this. This approach allows panel members to work closely with Mr Morgan’s family and take their views into account at each stage of the process.

“The Hillsborough Independent Panel demonstrated what can be achieved through this type of process: achieving full disclosure while getting to the truth.”

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the decision to establish a public inquiry is not one for the Met Police.

He said: “There is an independent panel examining the circumstances of the murder of Mr Morgan. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) continues to provide its fullest possible support to the panel’s work.”

The petition can be viewed online here bit.ly/2zXOiNU