The Metropolitan police has apologised to Caroline Flack’s family for poor record-keeping after they did not keep details of why the force appealed against prosecutors’ advice, which led to her being charged with assault.
A chief superintendent has said sorry to the late TV presenter’s family after a review by the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said there was no record from the Met on why they appealed against the Crown Prosecution Service’s advice to only caution her.
The appeal led to Flack being charged with assault by beating, after an incident with her boyfriend Lewis Burton at her flat in December 2019..
The former Love Island presenter was found dead at her her home in Islington in February 2020, aged 40.
The coroner presiding over the inquest into her death later found she took her life after finding out that prosecutors were going to press ahead with an assault charge.
The Eastern Daily Press reported that the borough commander of Camden and Islington, Ch Supt Andy Carter, had written to Flack’s family to say he was “sincerely sorry” after a complaint from the family, and that the Met had changed its procedures over how it appeals against CPS decisions.
The IOPC, which partly upheld the complaint, also found that the Met had not treated Flack differently because of her high profile.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police said the force had apologised to her family and “acknowledged the impact that this has had on them”. They added: “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Ms Flack’s family for their loss.”
Flack’s mother, Christine, told the Eastern Daily Press: “They have apologised for how they handled my complaint – but what they really should be apologising for is the way Carrie was treated.”
Flack’s family had escalated their concerns to the IOPC after an initial investigation by the directorate of professional standards found there was no misconduct.
A Met spokesperson said: “That investigation by the DPS concluded in May 2022 and found that the service provided was acceptable. The [Met] identified some learning around using IT systems to record appeal decisions and the use of decision models for cautions, which are being implemented.”
In June last year, Flack’s family appealed against the outcome of the DPS investigation to the IOPC, who carried out a review that did not identify any misconduct but concluded that an officer should receive “reflective practice”.
The spokesperson added: “This was about the requirement to review all case material and record a balanced rationale, demonstrating objective decision-making by exploring aggravating and mitigating factors, when appealing a CPS decision.”
The Met is due to get details of how it can further learn from the incident from the IOPC.
