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# Police urgently seek dashcam footage as murder investigation hones in on Christmas Day
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/police-urgently-seek-dashcam-footage-as-murder-investigation-hones-in-on-christma/
- Published: 2025-01-15T14:01:21.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:25:31.000Z
- Description: Detectives investigating the murder of William "Billy" McNicholl in Ipswich are focusing their enquiries on Christmas Day, urging drivers to check their dash-cam footage from the Chantry area.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Crime, Appeals, #article, #story-billy-mcnicholl-murder, Suffolk Constabulary, #Import 2026-03-16 14:45

**The big picture**: Seven days before Mr McNicholl's body was discovered, vehicles travelling through several key areas of Chantry may have captured crucial evidence. Police are concentrating their investigation on the following areas from 25 December:

- Hawthorn Drive
- Gippeswyk Park
- Birkfield Drive
- Belstead Road

![Map of interest from Suffolk Police investigating the murder of Billy McNicholl](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1736949595-area-of-interest-map-billy-mcnicholl-murder.png)

Detectives investigating the murder of William "Billy" McNicholl in Ipswich are urging drivers to check their dash-cam footage from the Chantry area (Suffolk Constabulary)

**What they're saying**: Detective Inspector Mark Hughes of the Joint Major Investigation Team said: "Perhaps you had visitors who would have driven along the roads in the Hawthorn Drive, Gippeswyk Park, Birkfield Drive and Belstead Road areas, or you may have done so yourself."

**Key details**:

- Mr McNicholl, 63, was found deceased on 1 January at an address in Hawthorn Drive
- A post-mortem indicated he died from head injuries and a single stab wound
- A woman in her 50s arrested on suspicion of murder has been bailed until 9 April

**How to help**: Information can be provided through:

- The [Major Incident Public Reporting Portal](https://mipp.police.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk)
- Phone: 101, quoting reference 37/162/25
- Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111 (100% anonymous)

**The bottom line**: Police are urging both residents and visitors who were in the Chantry area on Christmas Day to review any dash-cam footage, saying even small pieces of information could be vital to the investigation.

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