A COP from the drive who carried out the seek for Nicola Bulley is accused of gross misconduct in relation to the demise of another younger mum.
Kiena Dawes, 23, was reported missing just hours before she was hit by a practice and pronounced lifeless at the scene final July.
Following her dying, her family claimed she had been the victim of home abuse which prompted her to take her personal life and claimed she was ‘let down’ by Lancashire Police.
The police watchdog stated an officer from the drive now faces investigation because a person was released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting Kiena 11 days before she died.
The investigation is ongoing however the Unbiased Workplace for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed the unnamed officer has now been served notice and faces potential misconduct proceedings.
An IOPC spokesperson stated: “Our investigation into prior contact between Lancashire Constabulary and Kiena Dawes, earlier than her demise on July 22, 2022 continues.
“We've been wanting at the police response when Miss Dawes was reported missing, in addition to studies that she had been the sufferer of assaults.
“Having obtained and reviewed quite a few statements from witnesses, to know the nature of the contact between officers and Miss Dawes, an officer has been served discover for gross misconduct in relation to their actions leading as much as a person being launched on bail earlier in July final yr.
“This does not essentially mean that misconduct proceedings will comply with.
“Our thoughts stay with Miss Dawes’ family members and all these affected by her demise.”
MISSING MUM
Kiena was reported missing after she left her nine-month-old daughter, Marnie, with an in depth pal and disappeared on July 22 final yr.
Her physique was recovered from practice tracks near the town of Garstang, Lancs., as family and friends carried out a frantic search for her in nearby streets and alleyways.
But before they might locate the missing 23-year-old, they acquired the horrible information that her body had been discovered on a rail line just after 1pm.
Lancashire Police confirmed a 28-year-old man from Fleetwood had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting her on July 11, days before her suicide.
Regardless of the allegations of home abuse, the person was released on bail pending further enquiries and no fees have been brought towards him.
Her heartbroken household claimed Kiena had been dwelling in worry and had repeatedly sought the assistance of police in the weeks leading up her demise.
They revealed surprising photographs displaying her wanting bloodied and bruised following an alleged assault which happened after police had fitted panic alarms in her residence.
‘DEVASTATING IMPACT’
Lancashire Police later confirmed a compulsory referral had been made to the IOPC, which probed if if the pressure acted sufficiently in response to studies of violence towards Kiena and to locate her as soon as she was reported lacking.
IOPC regional director Catherine Bates added: “The dying of Kiena Dawes is a tragedy that has had a devastating impression on her household and buddies.
“Our thoughts stay together with her family members and all those affected.
“Our unbiased investigation will help set up the actions taken by police, each in response to stories of violence and to locate her once she was reported lacking.
“We have now spoken to Miss Dawes’ household to elucidate our position and will hold them up to date on the progress of our investigation.”
Kiena’s older brother Kynan stated after her demise the drive fitted her residence with a panic alarm and given her a particular neckless that had a button she might press.
However he stated this hadn’t cease her attacker coming to her residence on July 11, before he allegedly cut up her head open, leaving her ‘utterly traumatised’.
And he stated the police should have accomplished extra to assist her as she attempted to convey her alleged attacker to courtroom.
He stated on the time: “The police have let my sister down, they have. She needed to undergo the authorized route to get justice.
“The woman is lifeless now, however it ought to have gone to CPS ages ago. She didn’t need to stay a life the best way she was dwelling, so she ended it.
“They did not do enough. The top of CID goes to go through every thing with a toothpick.
“They’re going to seek out out why nothing happened, and why it obtained to the point where she felt she wasn’t being taken care of by the service, which she must be, and decided to take her life.”
NICOLA BULLEY
It comes after the drive confronted heavy criticism for the best way it handled the Nicola Bulley case in nearby St Michael’s On Wyre.
The drive have been slammed by critics for disclosing the character of Nicola’s issues with alcohol and the menopause at a press convention.
This prompted a backlash from campaigners, MPs and legal specialists, with some accusing the police of breaching her privateness.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police stated: “In the beginning our ideas are with Kiena Dawes’ family members at this troublesome time.
“We referred ourselves to the IOPC in July 2022 in relation to contact we had with Kiena before her demise.
“The IOPC are at present conducting an unbiased investigation and as this stays ongoing it will be inappropriate to remark any additional right now.”