Five police officers are served with misconduct notices over probe into Gracie’s death
THE police watchdog has served a gross misconduct notice to a police sergeant as part of its investigation into the contact the Derbyshire force had with Gracie Spinks prior to her death.
Two constables have also been served with misconduct notices in relation to what steps were taken after a bag of weapons, including an axe, a hammer and some knives, were reported on May 6 and collected by police.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) also says a separate sergeant and constable have been served misconduct notices “concerning how the investigation into the stalking and harassment allegation was handled”.
Miss Spinks’s body was found in a field in Duckmanton on June 18.
The IOPC confirmed Miss Spinks contacted the force in February 2021 to make an allegation of stalking, and an officer spoke to her and the man whose behaviour she had reported.
A spokesman said: “Our investigation is considering whether the force carried out all its safeguarding obligations to Ms Spinks and whether its investigation into the stalking matter was carried out in accordance with relevant police guidelines and policies.
“We are also looking into the actions and decision-making of police following the discovery of a bag, containing a hammer, an axe and some knives, in May this year. The bag had been found close to where Ms Spinks died several weeks later, and its discovery was reported to the force.”
IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said the watchdog had made “good progress” in its investigation but there was still more work to do.
He said: “After consideration of evidence so far, we have reached a stage where we have now served disciplinary notices on five officers. The purpose of such notices is to advise officers their conduct is subject to investigation, and do not necessarily mean that disciplinary proceedings will follow. The serving of notices will be kept under review.
“We aren’t able to provide more detail at present, but we appreciate the impact Gracie’s death has had on the local community and beyond and the importance of keeping people updated with our investigation’s progress.
“We are keeping Gracie’s family informed and we note the work they have undertaken with others to campaign for Gracie’s Law to help better protect victims of stalking.”
In a statement a Derbyshire police spokesman said: “We continue to support and fully co-operate with the IOPC investigation into the circumstances leading up to the tragic death of Gracie. We are keeping the IOPC up to date with a number of improvements we have implemented in recent months and we would encourage all victims of stalking and harassment to report incidents to us for investigation.”
Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins said: “I would not want to pre-empt the outcome of the investigation whilst it is ongoing, but share the view of the family that there is significant cause for concern about the steps that could have been taken to keep Gracie safe and weren’t by Derbyshire police.
“The circumstances regarding the bag that was found close to where Gracie was murdered several weeks later are very troubling and the issuing of a gross misconduct notice to a sergeant and misconduct notices to two constables is testament to the gravity of the concerns raised and the seriousness of the IOPC investigation into police failures.”