Owami Davies: Police watchdog considering investigation into officer contact | UK News

The police watchdog is planning to investigate Scotland Yard after officers came into contact with a student nurse who was reported missing.

Owami Davies, 24, from Grays, Essex, left her family home on July 4 and was last seen just after midnight on July 7 in Derby Road, west Croydon, south London, but has not been found.

Davies’ family reported her missing to Essex Police on July 6 and the force handed over the investigation to the Metropolitan Police on July 23. On Saturday, the Met revealed its officers had spoken to Davies on July 6.

In a statement, the force said officers had been called to an address in Clarendon Road, Croydon, due to concerns over the welfare of a woman. Police and London Ambulance Service attended the address and spoke to the woman, but she told them she did not want help and drove off. Davies had not been registered as a missing person in the police database at the time.

The Met only later established that the woman was in fact Davies following their missing person investigation. The force said its professional standards body had been consulted and was not investigating the officers, but said the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had asked for the matter to be referred to it.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) has been consulted and as there has been contact with the police, the IOPC Fund has been informed.

“The IOPC Fund has asked that the case be referred to them.

“The agents are not the subject of any ongoing investigation by the DPS.

“The interaction recorded on the video carried by the officers has been reviewed by members of the Independent Advisory Group and Owami’s family to ensure openness and transparency.”

The IOPC Fund said in a statement: ‘We can confirm that we received a recommendation on August 5 from the Metropolitan Police Service regarding contact officers had with Owami Davies in Croydon on July 6, after she was brought Missing to Essex Police.

“We are currently evaluating the available information to determine what additional measures may be necessary.”

The Met made several calls for information on Davies’ whereabouts and arrested five people – two suspected of murder and three suspected of kidnapping – all of whom were later released on bail. The force issued a fresh appeal earlier this week, saying Davies may be in Croydon and “need help”.

On Thursday, the British Transport Police (BTP) tweeted that the 24-year-old could still take trains regularly.

BTP wrote: ‘We are aware that Owami Davies, 24, regularly uses the rail and tube network to travel from Grays, Essex to the Croydon area. Often via West Ham and WestCroydon stations. metpoliceuk is looking at dates from July 7, 2022.

“Owami may still regularly travel by train in a vulnerable state, appearing dazed or confused and perhaps seeking to engage with other lone female travelers.”

The Met added: “Owami has been depressed and in the absence of her medication may use alcohol to relieve her depression.”

Essex Police said in a statement that after the start of the missing persons inquiry, “it became clear that a significant number of inquiries to locate Owami were in London and the inquiry for Finding her was therefore officially transferred to the Met on July 23.

The force explained: ‘When a person is reported missing, an assessment is carried out to identify the person’s risk of harm, including their age, current mental health and information about their vulnerability to exploitation.

“This risk is regularly reviewed as part of the investigation.

“A media call is often not the first investigative tool an officer conducting the search will consider, and a decision about whether and when to issue a media call can impact other investigative leads. available and wishes. of the family.

“Posting a picture of a person and publicly declaring them missing, just by the fact that they are missing, indicates that person is vulnerable.

“If we are able to locate someone without exposing them, and that vulnerability, to that level of public scrutiny, we try to do that.

“However, this is also balanced by the immediate risk identified to that person’s well-being.”