Britain's most senior police officer has said tech giants should be forced to hand over crucial evidence in criminal cases "in minutes" after it was revealed that Facebook has failed to cooperate with detectives investigating the murder of a schoolgirl.

Met Commissioner, Cressida Dick, said in certain cases social media companies should cooperate much more willingly with the police to help bring criminals to justice.

Her comments came as it emerged that Hampshire Police has been forced to apply to the US Department for Justice to gain access to the Facebook details of the man suspected of killing 13-year-old Lucy McHugh in Southampton.

Stephen Nicholson, 24, was arrested in July after the body of Lucy was discovered in woods near her home.