Blunders by mental health services led to the killings of 26 people over four years, it was revealed today.

Health officials have begun a major investigation into a string of killings by mental patients across the city.

The independent review was ordered after it emerged that half the deaths were never properly investigated.

Full details of the killings were kept quiet amid concerns about patient confidentiality. But today NHS London identified victims of serious failings in mental health services.

These include 58-year-old Ernest Meads, who was stabbed in December 2004 as he waited for a bus in north London. His killer was paranoid schizophrenic Ismail Dogan, who knifed five other people that day. Relatives of Dogan, who was sent to Broadmoor indefinitely, had repeatedly asked doctors and social services for more help.

The review will also investigate the case of Mohamed Osman, a 31-year-old Somalian schizophrenic who killed pregnant French student Camille Remy, 21.

The review will cover killings that health trusts failed to review properly between January 2002 and December 2006. Figures show that patients with mental health problems committed 49 homicides in London during this period.

Health authorities are required by law to conduct independent reviews. But NHS London found that the five authorities it replaced in 2006 failed to follow guidelines and independent probes were only completed for 23 of the homicides. Some carried out internal inquiries which identified serious failings, including inadequate risk assessments, inappropriate use of mental health laws and staff not listening to carers.

The new review is being carried out by Verita Consulting and will be completed by the end of the year.

Mental health campaigners welcomed the investigation but said it came too late.

The brother of Dennis Finnigan, who was killed by mental patient John Barrett in Richmond Park in 2004, said he hoped the inquiry would prevent further tragedies. John Finnigan said: "Families have waited a long time for this."

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