The deaths were not regarded as suspicious until weeks after the fourth murder and the case has since been labelled as “one of the most widespread institutional failings in modern history” by the men’s families.

In the recent inquiry, the court heard how the Metropolitan Police failed to carry out basic checks, send evidence for forensic examination and did not “exercise professional curiosity” while Port continued to prey on further victims.

While Coroner Sarah Munro QC ruled out homophobia as an issue for the jury to consider, Neil Hudgell, a solicitor representing the victims, has said: “Our firmly held belief is that the Metropolitan Police’s actions were, in part, driven by homophobia.”

The inquests, which were held at Barking Town Hall, were told that police had ignored multiple chances to uncover Port as being responsible for the first murder of Anthony Walgate, 23, in June 2014. The result of which could have meant that the later deaths of Kovari, 22, Whitworth, 21 and Taylor, 25, were preventable.

The jury also found that a murder team should have taken over the first inquiry.

BBC’s Four Lives: the chilling series premiere has drawn an outpouring of emotion from viewers for a very good reason