Met Police refers itself to watchdog after Caroline Flack's death

Jacob Jarvis20 February 2020
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The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog in relation to contact the force had with Caroline Flack before her death.

Flack was found dead at her home on Saturday.

She had been awaiting trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27.

A family lawyer said she died by suicide.

Caroline Flack was found dead in her home on Saturday
REUTERS

Scotland Yard’s directorate of professional standards reviewed all previous contact with the former Love Island presenter before making the referral on Wednesday.

The force announced the referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct today.

A statement said: "As is standard practice when a member of the public dies or is seriously injured and has had recent contact with police, the Directorate of Professional Standards has reviewed all previous police contact with Ms Flack.

"Following the review, the MPS made a mandatory referral to the IOPC on Wednesday, 19 February to allow for an independent assessment.

"No notice of investigation has been served on any officer and no conduct issues have been identified by the DPS. No officer is on restricted duties or suspended."

The Met Police referred itself to the IOPC
PA

An IOPC spokesman said the referral had been received but this did not mean an investigation would certainly follow.

He said: “The Independent Office for Police Conduct has received a referral from the Metropolitan Police relating to its contact with Caroline Flack prior to her death.

“We will make a decision on the level of our involvement after carefully assessing the information we have received. Receipt of a referral does not mean an investigation will necessarily follow.”

Flack stepped down from the current series of the ITV2 dating show after she was arrested and charged with assault by beating.

In December, she pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault at a hearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that, in the aftermath of the alleged incident at her then flat in Islington on December 12, Flack told police “I did it” and warned she would kill herself.

Flack was released on bail but was ordered to avoid any contact with Burton ahead of the trial.

Burton did not support the prosecution.

An unpublished Instagram post, shared posthumously by her family on Wednesday, revealed she felt the “walls” she had built around herself had “collapsed”.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please contact the Samaritans on 116123 (free) or email jo@samaritans.org.