Five Metropolitan Police officers and three former officers are being investigated for gross misconduct following the force’s failings in the case of serial killer Stephen Port.
Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor all died at the hands of Port, who drugged them with overdoses of GHB and dumped their bodies near his flat in Barking, east London, between June 2014 and September 2015.
On Thursday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said eight individuals have recently been told they are being investigated for possible breaches of police professional standards relating variously to equality and diversity, duties and responsibilities, authority respect and courtesy and honesty and integrity.
IOPC regional director Steve Noonan said: “We recognise it has taken some time to reach this stage, but these are complex matters, involving multiple officers and four investigations into unexplained deaths and then the subsequent murder investigation into Port.
“Though we have found an indication that the behaviour of these eight individuals may have amounted to gross misconduct, this does not necessarily mean disciplinary proceedings will automatically follow.
“Based on the evidence, at the conclusion of our investigation we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings.”
