Cardiff crash: Gwent Police officer investigated over handling of missing persons report

Three people died and two were left seriously injured following the crash. Credit: Social media

A police officer is being investigated for their handling of a missing persons report before a fatal crash that left three people dead.

Police watchdog the IOPC said it has served a misconduct notice to the officer based on evidence it has reviewed so far after the force referred itself to the organisation.

Darcy Ross, 21, and Eve Smith, 21, both from Newport, as well as Rafel Jeanne, 24, from Cardiff, died following the incident off the A48 in St Mellons, Cardiff.

The group were found in the early hours of 6 March - almost 48 hours after they were last seen.

The families of the three young women had all reported them missing on the evening of Saturday 4 March.

The IOPC is considering whether the age of the missing persons impacted on the officer’s decision making.

Friend of Cardiff crash victims claims they found them before police did
The car the group were travelling in was found in a wooded area next to a roundabout. Credit: PA Images

The Independent Office for Police Conduct added that such notices advise an officer they are subject to investigation and are kept under review. They do not necessarily mean that any disciplinary proceedings will follow.

The group were discovered just after midnight on Monday March 6, 46 hours after the last contact from them.

The families of Ms Smith, Ms Ross and Ms Russon had all reported them missing on the evening of Saturday March 4.

What exactly is the police watchdog investigating?

  • Police officers and control room staff's actions and decisions in dealing with the missing person reports, up to the discovery of the vehicle and the five missing persons

  • Whether the missing person reports were appropriately risk assessed, reviewed and resourced

  • If police action was in accordance with the relevant legislation and local and national guidance, policies and procedures regarding missing persons

  • The contact and communication between the police and the families of the deceased and injured missing persons before the vehicle was discovered

  • The investigation will also aim to establish whether the actions or inactions of both Gwent and South Wales police forces contributed to the deaths and serious injuries sustained in the incident

The police watchdog is gathering statements from officers who attended the collision scene, those who took the missing person reports, control room staff, and officers who reviewed and determined the risk assessment gradings for the reports.

Internal communication between the police officers and staff identified as being involved is also being reviewed, along with CCTV from relevant police stations.

The watchdog is also speaking to the National Police Air Service about the police helicopter involvement during the search.

It added that investigators have met the families to understand the contact they had with police and the "situation they encountered at the collision scene".

Flowers were left near the crash scene and a vigil was held in the days after.

IOPC Director David Ford said: "Our investigators have met with all the families involved and we are in contact with them on a regular basis, to keep them updated on the progress of our investigation.

"We have gathered a significant amount of evidence since our investigation began and we will ensure that our investigation continues to be thorough and timely.

"While we are investigating an officer for potential misconduct, it is only at the end of our investigation once we have established all the facts that we will make a decision as to whether the officer has any case to answer.”