Mum rejects Met’s apology over murdered daughters
THE mother of two murdered sisters has dismissed an apology from the Metropolitan Police after its response to their deaths was found to be “below standard”.
Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were stabbed to death by Danyal Hussein, 19, while out celebrating a birthday on June 7, 2020.
A report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct found the level of service provided by the Met was “below the standard it should have been”. Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said: “I am very sorry that the level of service we provided fell short.” The sisters were reported as missing by worried family and friends. But the missing persons log was incorrectly closed by an inspector.
Their bodies were found in Fryent Country Park in Wembley, north-west London, by Nicole’s boyfriend during a search by family and friends.
Mum Mina Smallman said the time for apologies had “long gone”. Speaking to Channel 4 News, she said: “Right from the very beginning they knew they were looking for two women of colour. I’m trying to understand why they didn’t follow procedure.
“Assertions that they were at a Black Lives Matter protest... The inspector who closed it used words like ‘chaotic celebration in the park’. Where did he get the notion it was chaotic? It was
10 people having a picnic.” Mina added: “Sorry is something you say when you comprehend the wrong you do and take full responsibility for it, demonstrating that by taking appropriate proportionate action – which to our minds is not going to happen.
“The investigation was not handled appropriately. The apology should have been done face to face and not 10 months later.” The force said no misconduct was found against an officer and two staff but action would be taken over their inadequate performance.