[ad_1]
The Metropolitan Police faces an investigation into the actions of two of its officers following a report of indecent exposure against a serving officer later arrested in the Sarah Everard case.
The police watchdog has launched an independent probe into whether officers responded appropriately after they received a report on 28 February that a man had exposed himself at a fast food restaurant in south London.
The Met Police (MPS) said it voluntarily referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in relation to the two.
A separate investigation will look at the actions of police after they received a report of Ms Everard’s disappearance.
The 33-year-old vanished while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London last Wednesday, her suspected kidnap and murder prompting anger over the safety of women on the UK’s streets.
Wayne Couzens, the Met police officer suspected of kidnapping and murdering her was taken to hospital for a head injury that happened while he was in custody. Police have been given more time to question him.
The protection officer, whose main job was uniformed patrol of diplomatic premises, was arrested on Tuesday night on suspicion of kidnap before being further arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure the following day.
The IOPC said in a statement: “Our investigation will look at the actions of the MPS after police received a report on 28 February that a man had exposed himself at a fast food restaurant in south London.
“On Wednesday we determined that two conduct referrals relating to kidnap/murder and indecent exposure allegations against the arrested officer should remain under local investigation by the force.
“We are still assessing a mandatory referral in relation to the actions of police after they received a report that Sarah Everard was missing.”
The IOPC also received a mandatory referral from the Met on Thursday over police contact with the officer over his head injury, which is being assessed to determine what further action may be required.
The Met said it had made a voluntary referral to the IOPC “for a conduct matter in relation to the police investigation into the separate allegations of indecent exposure”.
The force also made a mandatory referral to the IOPC over the “actions of police” after Sarah Everard was reported missing.
Another mandatory referral has been made by the force over the arrested man being taken to hospital for treatment to a head wound sustained in custody.
The Met said the suspect was being monitored by CCTV and received immediate first aid.
The Met Police also confirmed it had made two referrals – one voluntary and one mandatory – to the IOPC “linked to the conduct of the officer arrested on suspicion of kidnap, murder and indecent exposure”, which are being investigated locally.
The force said it was “offering every assistance” to the IOPC.
[ad_2]
Source link
