Family of Dorset teenager Gaia Pope 'devastated' at further delay to investigation into her death

Marienna Pope-Weidermann, Gaia's cousin

The family of a Dorset teenager who disappeared almost two years ago say they are "devastated" that they still have not had the results of an investigation into the events leading up to her death.

The body of 19-year-old Gaia Pope was found 11 days after she disappeared from Swanage.

The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the conduct of detectives who looked for her but they will not release their report until after a full inquest into Gaia's death.

Deadlines for the IOPC investigation have been extended several times since May.

November 7 marks the second anniversary of Gaia's disappearance.

Her family says that for almost two years they have been "left struggling to stay afloat in a sea of unanswered questions", "without them we live frozen, unable to grieve, unable to move forwards, unable even to begin".

The family maintains that what happened to Gaia is one of public concern and families "have the right to meaningful participation in investigations, but too often this is not happening as it should".

As a result, Gaia's family is campaigning to improve these systems with support from the charity INQUEST.