Met officers investigated over ‘racism’ in handling of school crash that left two girls dead

Eleven Met officers are being investigated by the police watchdog over alleged racism in relation to their handling of a crash in Wimbledon that killed two schoolgirls.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct’s (IOPC) said four serving officers, including a commander and a detective chief inspector, are being investigated for gross misconduct.

Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight, died when a Land Rover driven by Claire Freemantle crashed into an end-of-term tea party at The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, south-west London, in July 2023.

Ms Freemantle was never charged with any criminal offence, with the Crown Prosecution Service saying she suffered an epileptic seizure at the wheel.

She was rearrested and released on bail pending further investigation in January last year.

The CPS said there are ‘some further factors we must consider’ before making a charging decision.

The families of the two girls have said the ‘truth must come to light’ after the IOPC investigation was announced, adding: ‘We were unconvinced that the investigation was conducted thoroughly.’

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the IOPC said it was probing allegations that officers provided ‘false and misleading information’ to the families following complaints about the standard of the investigation.

The watchdog said the complaints related to the force’s ‘management and direction, the conduct of the investigation team, and their engagement with the victims’.

Reacting to the latest update, the girls’ families said in a statement: ‘We have always maintained that the initial investigation was flawed.

‘When the Crown Prosecution Service took the decision for no further action against the driver on June 26, 2024, we asserted that the original investigation was poor, and we were unconvinced that the investigation was conducted thoroughly.

‘We are encouraged that the Independent Office of Police Conduct have opened an inquiry.

‘We have always sought the truth, and will continue to champion the pursuit of complete clarity on the events of that devastating day and subsequent actions taken by the Metropolitan Police.

‘The truth must come to light.’

Prosecutors wrote to the victims’ families on Friday to say they expected to be able to announce whether or not they had reached a charging decision by the end of April.

The families are due to meet with the CPS on Tuesday for an update.

A spokesperson for the CPS said: ‘After careful consideration of all the evidence and material provided by the police as part of this reinvestigation, and upon receipt of advice from counsel on April 7, we have concluded that there are some further factors we must consider before a decision on charge can be reached.

‘We appreciate the ongoing distress any delay may cause and are committed to making a final decision as soon as possible.’

Confirming the watchdog’s investigation, IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: ‘The complaints relate to concerns about the standard of the investigation, including its management and direction, the conduct of the investigation team, and their engagement with the victims.

‘We are also investigating allegations that Met officers provided false and misleading information to those affected and whether the officers’ treatment of those affected was influenced by their race.

‘We have now served notices advising four serving officers, whose ranks are commander, detective chief inspector, detective sergeant and detective constable, and a former detective inspector, that their conduct is being investigated at the level of gross misconduct.

‘Two detective constables are being investigated at misconduct level.

‘Our investigation is ongoing and should any further conduct issues be identified then officers will be served notices.

‘All officers served notices will be interviewed in due course.

‘The serving of notices does not mean that proceedings will necessarily follow.’

Ms Rowe said IOPC investigators have met with the families and the officers leading the Met Police’s new investigation into the tragedy.

The director said: ‘At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether any officers have a disciplinary case to answer in respect of the conduct allegations.’

The Met submitted a full file of evidence to the CPS on March 17 after it reopened the investigation on October 24, 2024.

Commander Charmain Brenyah, from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Nuria and Selena’s families, as well as everyone who has been impacted by this terrible tragedy.

‘We understand this prolonged process has compounded their grief and suffering.

‘It is right that our initial handling of this incident be independently scrutinised, and we will provide every assistance to the IOPC as their investigation continues.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Comments Add as preferred source