Police To Face Questions Over Double Murder

Police will face questions about whether they could have done anything to prevent the shootings of a mother and her toddler at a house in Braintree.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating after officers found the bodies of 38 year old Christine Chambers and her two year old daughter Shania.

Officers were called to a house in Braintree at 3am on Monday where they found their bodies.

Ms Chambers' 10-year-old daughter escaped from the house and alerted family members who called police.

A 50-year-old man is under guard in hospital where he is undergoing treatment for shotgun injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.

He has yet to be arrested, but police said they are not searching for anyone else over the deaths.

Neighbours in Bartram Avenue claimed police could have prevented the tragedy.

At a press conference, Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge, head of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, said: ''There have been a number of incidents where contact between the man in custody and Chrissie Chambers have been referred to Essex Police over the course of the last two years.

''It is too early to tell if there will be lessons to learn from this case but we will be examining every aspect of it.

''If there are any mistakes or shortcomings we will not shirk our responsibilities.

''That is why we have voluntarily referred this matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.''

No shots were fired by police and a shotgun has been recovered from the house.

A post-mortem is expected to be carried out later.