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| Gaia Pope: Dorset Police officer disciplined over missing teen probe | Gaia Pope: Dorset Police officer disciplined over missing teen probe |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Gaia Pope's body was found 11 days after she went missing in November 2017 | Gaia Pope's body was found 11 days after she went missing in November 2017 |
| A police officer was disciplined over their handling of the search for a missing teenager who was later found dead, the BBC can reveal. | A police officer was disciplined over their handling of the search for a missing teenager who was later found dead, the BBC can reveal. |
| The body of 19-year-old Gaia Pope was discovered 11 days after she went missing in Swanage, Dorset, in 2017. | The body of 19-year-old Gaia Pope was discovered 11 days after she went missing in Swanage, Dorset, in 2017. |
| Dorset Police has now confirmed it issued an officer with a "final warning" after concerns were raised by the police watchdog about the search. | Dorset Police has now confirmed it issued an officer with a "final warning" after concerns were raised by the police watchdog about the search. |
| A jury inquest into Miss Pope's death is scheduled to take place next year. | A jury inquest into Miss Pope's death is scheduled to take place next year. |
| Miss Pope's disappearance prompted a major multi-agency search and rescue operation | Miss Pope's disappearance prompted a major multi-agency search and rescue operation |
| Her disappearance on 7 November 2017 prompted a large-scale search by police, the coastguard and hundreds of volunteers. | Her disappearance on 7 November 2017 prompted a large-scale search by police, the coastguard and hundreds of volunteers. |
| On 18 November her body was found by police close to where items of her clothing had been discovered two days earlier. | On 18 November her body was found by police close to where items of her clothing had been discovered two days earlier. |
| A post-mortem examination concluded she had died of hypothermia. | A post-mortem examination concluded she had died of hypothermia. |
| The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) subsequently launched an investigation into Dorset Police's handling of the search. | The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) subsequently launched an investigation into Dorset Police's handling of the search. |
| The force said a private meeting was held with an officer about "conduct issues" that were raised in the resulting IOPC report. | The force said a private meeting was held with an officer about "conduct issues" that were raised in the resulting IOPC report. |
| No other details about the officer's rank or the specific nature of their misconduct was revealed. | No other details about the officer's rank or the specific nature of their misconduct was revealed. |
| Clara Pope-Sutherland and Marienna Pope-Weidemann - Gaia's sister and cousin - have called for better police training | Clara Pope-Sutherland and Marienna Pope-Weidemann - Gaia's sister and cousin - have called for better police training |
| Miss Pope's family say they believe the way Dorset Police handled a rape allegation she made in 2015 was a crucial factor in mental health challenges that ultimately led to her disappearance and death. | Miss Pope's family say they believe the way Dorset Police handled a rape allegation she made in 2015 was a crucial factor in mental health challenges that ultimately led to her disappearance and death. |
| Clara Pope-Sutherland, Gaia's sister, said: "It's too little too late for us, but hopefully it won't be for other people who go through those experiences. | Clara Pope-Sutherland, Gaia's sister, said: "It's too little too late for us, but hopefully it won't be for other people who go through those experiences. |
| "The authorities really need to start training, start understanding how to deal with these situations." | "The authorities really need to start training, start understanding how to deal with these situations." |
| Marienna Pope-Weidemann, Gaia's cousin, said: "I think it's appalling that over the last 10 years the number of sexual offences reported to Dorset Police has doubled, while the number of charges has halved. | Marienna Pope-Weidemann, Gaia's cousin, said: "I think it's appalling that over the last 10 years the number of sexual offences reported to Dorset Police has doubled, while the number of charges has halved. |
| "Our community deserves so much better than that... [campaign group] Justice for Gaia is determined to effect change on a local level as well while we confront the national problem." | "Our community deserves so much better than that... [campaign group] Justice for Gaia is determined to effect change on a local level as well while we confront the national problem." |
| Dorset Police said it could not comment on Miss Pope's case because of the forthcoming inquest. | |
| However, Det Ch Supt Pete Little said the force was working with the Crown Prosecution Service to "improve the services offered to those who report rape and other serious sexual offences". | |
| He said an "action plan" had been developed that includes "a range of measures designed to increase victim confidence in the criminal justice system". | |
| "We take reports of rape offences extremely seriously and will do all we can to ensure offences are thoroughly investigated and offenders are brought to justice," he added. | |
| Next year's inquest is expected to last for about three months, with more than 70 witnesses taking part. | Next year's inquest is expected to last for about three months, with more than 70 witnesses taking part. |
| Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |