The Met has been ordered to reinvestigate whether Caroline Flack would have been treated differently were she not famous.
The Love Island presenter died by suicide on February 15, 2020 while facing an assault charge and fearing the publicity that would come with a trial, an inquest found.
The police watchdog, the IOPC, originally concluded that there was no indication of a causal link between the actions of police and Flack’s death.
However, after the star’s mother complained to both the force and the watchdog, the IOPC has directed the Met to reinvestigate the complaint of whether the 40-year-old was treated differently because of her fame, reported the BBC.
Ms Flack’s mother, Christine, told the broadcaster: “It leaves us really sad and really angry because we want to know why they charged her.
“I just want the truth out there. I know it won’t bring her back but I’ve got to do it for her."
Ms Flack had been facing a trial in relation to an alleged assault on her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.
The 40-year-old’s inquest at Poplar’s Coroner’s Court heard that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had initially decided to caution the star - but charged her following an appeal by police.
Her mother said she believed the Met treated her daughter differently because of her fame and said the decision to charge her daughter “definitely” contributed to her death.
She said: “I just want those answers to make me feel better and to make me know that I’ve done the right thing by Caroline."
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Following a review, the IOPC agreed with the MPS that service was acceptable in relation to seven areas of the complaints relating to the response and handling of the incident by the MPS.
"The IOPC has directed the MPS to reinvestigate one element of the complaints.
“This relates to the process involved in appealing the CPS decision to caution Ms Flack. We will re-examine this element of the investigative process. Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Caroline’s family.”
