Arrested, police officers who ‘shared horrific photograph of murder victims’
‘Additional trauma for grieving family’
A PAiR of Scotland Yard officers have been arrested for allegedly taking ‘sickening’ photographs of the bodies of two murdered sisters in a park.
the grieving family of nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were said to be ‘extremely distressed’ last night after it emerged that ‘non- official and inappropriate photographs’ were taken at the murder scene.
the victims, whose mother Wilhelmina Smallman was the first ethnic minority woman archdeacon in the Anglican church, were stabbed to death in a frenzied knife attack by a stranger in a park in
Wembley, north London on June 5. the sisters had gone to the park with friends for a picnic to celebrate Bibaa’s birthday and were last seen dancing in the dark, draped in fairy lights around midnight.
two days after they went missing their bodies were found at Fryent County Park. the hunt for their killer continues.
it is alleged that two officers deployed to guard the murder scene took photographs of their bodies and sent the images to others, including members of the public.
Both were arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Monday and the matter has been passed to the independent office of Police Conduct to investigate.
Yesterday Scotland Yard Commander Paul Brogden said: ‘i am horrified and disgusted by the nature of these allegations; a sentiment which will be shared by colleagues. if true, these actions are morally reprehensible and anyone involved will be robustly dealt with.
He added: ‘Senior representatives from the Metropolitan Police Service and the ioPC visited the parents of Bibaa and nicole to inform them of these serious allegations and confirm that it is now subject to an independent investigation.
‘this deeply disturbing information will no doubt have created additional trauma for a family who are already grieving the devastating loss of two loved ones.’
Sal naseem of the ioPC said: ‘these are sickening allegations and when we were made aware by the Metropolitan Police, we acted quickly to arrest the officers.
‘the victims’ family are naturally extremely distressed.’
the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said he was ‘disgusted’. He added: ‘i am deeply concerned about the impact this will no doubt have on the victims’ family, friends and the wider community.’
Both officers, who are based on the north East Command, have been suspended from duty and are currently on police bail.
Last week Mrs Smallman released a heartbreaking tribute to Bibaa, a senior social worker and nicole, a freelance photographer.