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Investigation into Met officers' alleged photos of murdered sisters will consider racism Mother of murdered daughters attacks 'toxic' Met police culture
(about 3 hours later)
IOPC will address if racial bias played a part after Cressida Dick apologises for officers’ alleged actions Watchdog examining claims officers shared crime scene photos will examine whether racism played part
The investigation into two Metropolitan police officers over allegations they took photographs at a murder scene will consider if racism led to their actions, the Guardian has learned. The mother whose murdered daughters’ corpses were allegedly photographed by police at the crime scene has blasted officers, the culture of the police and has claimed that racial stereotyping played a part in the case.
The case is being investigated by the police watchdog, which on Monday arrested the two officers over the claims.
Sisters Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were found stabbed to death in Fryent country park in north-west London this month. They were the daughters of a pioneering cleric, Mina Smallman, the Church of England’s first female archdeacon from a black and minority ethnic background.Sisters Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were found stabbed to death in Fryent country park in north-west London this month. They were the daughters of a pioneering cleric, Mina Smallman, the Church of England’s first female archdeacon from a black and minority ethnic background.
As part of their investigation the Independent Office for Police Conduct will assess if racial bias played a part in the officers’ actions, the police watchdog has confirmed. The case is being investigated by the police watchdog, which on Monday arrested the two officers over the claims.
It was first revealed by The Guardian and the allegations that officers guarding the murder scene photographed the bodies and shared them via a WhatsApp chat group, as well as allegedly taking a selfie at the crime scene.
Mina Smallman used an interview with the BBC to put her family’s horrifying experience into a context of enduring worse treatment because of race.
According to interview extracts released by the BBC, Ms Smallman said: “If ever we needed an example of how toxic it has become, those police officers felt so safe, so untouchable, that they felt they could take photographs of dead black girls and send them on.
“It speaks volumes of the ethos that runs through the Metropolitan Police.”
Smallman said the taking of the photos which showed the faces of her daughters “dehumanised” her children and she feared that could be posted on the internet: “They were nothing to them and what’s worse, they sent them on to members of the public.”
Smallman said the photos had “taken our grief to another place”, and her comments will add to claims that the Met police has failed to get to grips with racism as demonstrations inspired by the Blacks Lives Matter movement continue.
The sisters were reported missing after a birthday gathering on 5 June, and their bodies were found on 7 June. Police believe they were stabbed by a stranger who was injured in the attack and is still at large.
Smallman attacked the police response when her daughter’s were reported missing, accusing officers of “making assumptions” and she said: “I knew instantly why they didn’t care. They didn’t care because they looked at my daughter’s address and thought they knew who she was. A black woman who lives on a council estate.”
The bodies were not found by police, but in fact by one of their boyfriends who went back to the area they had last been seen.
The IOPC investigation will consider if racism led to the officers’ alleged actions, the Guardian has learned. The police watchdog is also examining if the search for the two sisters after they were reported missing was bungled.
IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: “We can confirm that as part of our investigation we will be examining whether the officers’ actions were motivated or influenced by race discrimination.”IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: “We can confirm that as part of our investigation we will be examining whether the officers’ actions were motivated or influenced by race discrimination.”
The photos were shared on a WhatsApp group that included members of the public. One of the images, taken at the scene of the double homicide, is a selfie-style photo.
The fallout from the Guardian’s revelations led on Friday to Cressida Dick, Britain’s top police officer, apologising for the alleged actions of the two officers, which she said left her “dumbfounded”.The fallout from the Guardian’s revelations led on Friday to Cressida Dick, Britain’s top police officer, apologising for the alleged actions of the two officers, which she said left her “dumbfounded”.
The sisters were reported missing after a birthday gathering on 5 June, and their bodies were found on 7 June. Police said several days later that they had been stabbed to death by a stranger who was likely to have been injured in the attack and who is still at large.
Two officers have been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and suspended from duty. The allegations were reported to the Met’s directorate of professional standards, which referred them to the IOPC.Two officers have been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and suspended from duty. The allegations were reported to the Met’s directorate of professional standards, which referred them to the IOPC.
Dick condemned the alleged actions of the officers and said she was appalled by the claims. “I don’t know all the details but if it is as it appears to be then it is shocking,” she said. “It is disgusting and the whole of the Met would condemn what has happened here. If those officers’ actions have added to the families’ unimaginable distress, then I apologise from the bottom of my heart.”Dick condemned the alleged actions of the officers and said she was appalled by the claims. “I don’t know all the details but if it is as it appears to be then it is shocking,” she said. “It is disgusting and the whole of the Met would condemn what has happened here. If those officers’ actions have added to the families’ unimaginable distress, then I apologise from the bottom of my heart.”
Scotland Yard said its directorate of professional standards was told last week about allegations that “non-official and inappropriate photographs” had been taken at the crime scene. The sisters had gathered in a park with friends at about 7pm on 5 June to celebrate Henry’s birthday. They are believed to have stayed behind after their friends left just after midnight, and last had contact with family and friends at 1.05am. They were reported missing the following day.
Meanwhile, the IOPC, which described the allegations as sickening, said the pictures appeared to have been shared with a small number of others, adding that the Met was “handling matters involving those members of the public who may have received those images”. The watchdog is separately investigating how the Met handled calls from the sisters’ relatives after they went missing.
Mina Smallman has said she had to organise a search for her daughters.
Speaking to the BBC, Smallman, the former Archdeacon of Southend, said the pictures “dehumanised” her children. “They were nothing to them and what’s worse, they sent them on to members of the public,” she said.
Her daughters had gathered in a park with friends at about 7pm on 5 June to celebrate Henry’s birthday. They are believed to have stayed behind after their friends left just after midnight, and last had contact with family and friends at 1.05am. They were reported missing the following day.
Police say phone calls to the two women went unanswered from about 2.30am. Detectives believe the killer suffered a significant injury during the attack.
Dick said: “This is a horrible, horrible double murder of two beautiful young women. My heart goes out to their family. It is just appalling. We are doing everything we can to bring the people or persons to justice for this. We have an enormous investigation, very well resourced and using all the expertise not just in London but all across the country and beyond.Dick said: “This is a horrible, horrible double murder of two beautiful young women. My heart goes out to their family. It is just appalling. We are doing everything we can to bring the people or persons to justice for this. We have an enormous investigation, very well resourced and using all the expertise not just in London but all across the country and beyond.
“I am determined that we bring the killer to justice as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information can call the incident room on 020 8721 4205, via 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 3160/7Jun. Alternatively, information can be provided online via this link. Information can be provided anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.Anyone with information can call the incident room on 020 8721 4205, via 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 3160/7Jun. Alternatively, information can be provided online via this link. Information can be provided anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.