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Alice Gross inquiry: Met police launch two reviews of case Alice Gross inquiry: Met police launch two reviews of case
(about 5 hours later)
Scotland Yard has announced two reviews into its investigation to find missing teenager Alice Gross, as its officers arrived in Latvia to step up the hunt for prime suspect Arnis Zalkalns. Scotland Yard has announced two reviews into its investigation to find the missing teenager Alice Gross as its officers arrived in Latvia to step up the hunt for prime suspect Arnis Zalkalns.
Police said one of the reviews would look at the early part of the investigation after Alice went missing on 28 August and after Zalkalns went missing one week later. The Met would not say why this review was thought to be necessary. Police said one review would look at the early part of the investigation after Alice went missing on 28 August and Zalkalns went missing one week later. The Met would not say why this review was thought to be necessary.
The Met also appeared to rebut criticism that it had been too slow to ask for help from police in Latvia, where Zalkalns had been convicted and jailed for murdering his wife. It said it had approached Latvian police for help on 11 September, a week before the Met publicly announced Zalkalns was a suspect. The Met also appeared to rebut criticism that it had been too slow to ask for help from police in Latvia, where Zalkalns had been convicted and jailed for murdering his wife. It said it had approached Latvian police for help on 11 September, a week before it publicly announced Zalkalns was a suspect.
Some had questioned whether the Met had waited too long until sending a formal request for help on 19 September. Latvian police confirmed they had been assisting the Met inquiry for nearly a fortnight. Some had questioned whether the Met had waited too long before sending a formal request for help on 19 September. Latvian police confirmed they had been assisting the Met inquiry for nearly a fortnight.
Alice, 14, went missing after going for a walk in west London on 28 August. CCTV shows Zalkalns on a bicycle around 15 minutes behind her as she walked by a canal. Police believe he would have encountered her. Alice, 14, went missing after going for a walk in west London on 28 August. CCTV shows Zalkalns riding a bicycle about 15 minutes behind her as she walked by a canal. Police believe he would have encountered her.
Zalkalns, 41, served a seven-year prison sentence in his native Latvia, where he was jailed in 1998 for murdering his wife. In 2009 he was arrested over an alleged indecent assault on a teenage girl in the Ealing area, but the case was dropped.Zalkalns, 41, served a seven-year prison sentence in his native Latvia, where he was jailed in 1998 for murdering his wife. In 2009 he was arrested over an alleged indecent assault on a teenage girl in the Ealing area, but the case was dropped.
After Alice’s parents reported her missing, the investigation was handled by local officers who took advice from the Met’s homicide and major crime command. Five days later the major crime command had taken over the investigation. Police stress there is still no evidence that she has come to any harm.After Alice’s parents reported her missing, the investigation was handled by local officers who took advice from the Met’s homicide and major crime command. Five days later the major crime command had taken over the investigation. Police stress there is still no evidence that she has come to any harm.
In a statement announcing the two reviews, the Met said the first was standard as the search for Alice would be 28 days old on Wednesday, and would be carried out by the Met’s specialist crime review group. In essence, this involves a fresh pair of eyes looking at leads and information to see if the existing team has missed anything. In a statement announcing the two reviews, the Met said the first was standard as the search for Alice would be 28 days old on Wednesday, and would be carried out by the Met’s specialist crime review group.
The second review announced by the Met is more unusual. The force said in a statement: “A review is also being carried out of the Met’s early investigation into Alice’s disappearance and the initial stages of the missing person investigation into Arnis Zalkalns. This is essential to ensure that any learning is identified. The review will be completed as quickly as possible.” In essence, this involves a fresh pair of eyes looking at leads and information to see if the existing team has missed anything.
The second review is more unusual. The force said in a statement: “A review is also being carried out of the Met’s early investigation into Alice’s disappearance and the initial stages of the missing person investigation into Arnis Zalkalns. This is essential to ensure that any learning is identified. The review will be completed as quickly as possible.”
One possibility is that the review will examine whether Zalkalns should or could have been identified as a person of interest or a suspect more quickly.One possibility is that the review will examine whether Zalkalns should or could have been identified as a person of interest or a suspect more quickly.
The Met described its investigations as “expanding” and said officers had arrived in Latvia where they would work alongside local police. They are expected to examine files on Zalkalns and assist with questioning of his friends and family as to where he may have gone. Police in Latvia say they have no evidence that the 41-year-old builder has entered the country. The Met described its investigations as “expanding” and said officers had arrived in Latvia, where they would work alongside local police. They are expected to examine files on Zalkalns and assist with questioning of his friends and family as to where he may have gone. Police in Latvia say they have no evidence that the 41-year-old builder has entered the country.
The Met said: “Officers attached to the inquiry will be in Latvia to pursue part of the investigation. They are working closely with the Latvian police and their arrival is at their invitation, under the terms of an international letter of request. At this stage it is not being confirmed how long officers will remain in the country.”The Met said: “Officers attached to the inquiry will be in Latvia to pursue part of the investigation. They are working closely with the Latvian police and their arrival is at their invitation, under the terms of an international letter of request. At this stage it is not being confirmed how long officers will remain in the country.”
Specialist teams continued to search canals and rivers in the area near to where Alice was last seen. The Met is being assisted by specialist teams from the Surrey and Avon and Somerset forces. The Met said: “This is the largest deployment of search assets mobilised by the Met in support of an ongoing investigation since 7/7. Officers have searched 25 sq km of open land, 5.5km of canals and rivers, plus over 30 properties including houses, derelict buildings, out buildings and empty houses.”Specialist teams continued to search canals and rivers in the area near to where Alice was last seen. The Met is being assisted by specialist teams from the Surrey and Avon and Somerset forces. The Met said: “This is the largest deployment of search assets mobilised by the Met in support of an ongoing investigation since 7/7. Officers have searched 25 sq km of open land, 5.5km of canals and rivers, plus over 30 properties including houses, derelict buildings, out buildings and empty houses.”
On Thursday police will mark four weeks since Alice’s disappearance by carrying out a high-profile reconstruction.On Thursday police will mark four weeks since Alice’s disappearance by carrying out a high-profile reconstruction.
On Tuesday before the Met’s announcement, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said it had received no complaints about the Met’s handling of the case.On Tuesday before the Met’s announcement, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said it had received no complaints about the Met’s handling of the case.