Met police refers itself to watchdog over death

THE Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following the murder of a woman in London.

A murder investigation was launched after police forced entry to a property in Stanhope Place, Bayswater, at approximately 8.30am on Monday April 8.

On Sunday, officers were contacted twice by friends of Kamonnan Thiamphanit, who were concerned about her welfare.

This was graded as a medium-risk missing person inquiry before officers forced entry and discovered the body of the 27-year-old on Monday morning.

Ms Thiamphanit, who was known to her friends as Angela, had suffered from stab injuries.

The IOPC has confirmed the Metropolitan Police referred itself to the watchdog on Tuesday.

Commander Owain Richards, of the Metropolitan Police, told the PA news agency: “We received two calls from Kamonnan’s friends on Sunday, April 7, raising concerns that they had not heard from her for some time.

“One just after 7pm and then another one just after 9.30pm on the Sunday evening.

“We initially graded the missing person inquiry as a medium-risk, prior to forcing entry and discovering her body on the following Monday morning.

“As her friends had contacted police and then we subsequently found, tragically, the body, we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is a standard referral in these cases.”

A spokesperson for the IOPC confirmed the matter “should be investigated” and “this should be carried out by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards”.