Independent Police Complaints Commission
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IPCC publishes findings into Metropolitan Police’s missing persons investigation of Saima Ahmed

An Acting Detective Chief Inspector (A/DCI) will face a misconduct meeting for his role in the missing persons investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police (MPS) following the disappearance of Saima Ahmed in August 2015.

Saima went missing from her home in London on 30 August 2015 and her body was later discovered on a golf course on the outskirts of Edinburgh on 10 January 2016. Police Scotland continues to investigate Saima Ahmed’s death which remains unexplained.

In the opinion of the IPCC Lead Investigator, the A/DCI has a case to answer for misconduct for failing to pursue lines of enquiry arising out of Saima’s last known sighting or document a rationale for not doing so. This may have been a breach of his professional standards.

The IPCC investigation also examined the actions taken by officers following the initial reports of Saima’s disappearance by her family and the subsequent investigation and reviews conducted. In the opinion of the IPCC Lead Investigator, the initial call handling response was appropriate and officers were sent to visit the family quickly. However, there appear to have been inconsistencies and omissions in the recording of information at this early stage. Some relevant details were therefore unavailable to investigators and this affected the investigation and its risk assessments. Two police constables will face unsatisfactory performance procedures in relation to these matters.

IPCC Commission-Delegate Colin Dewar said: “The IPCC investigation into how the Metropolitan Police handled Saima Ahmed’s disappearance formed the opinion that, in places, officers may not have met the levels required by their professional standards. It is important that improvements are made for future investigations and that the officers will be accountable for their actions.”

The IPCC found no case to answer against two more officers, a Detective Inspector and a Detective Constable, both based in Brent borough.

 

Channel website: https://policeconduct.gov.uk/

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