Thames Valley: Police Investigated Over 999 Call

24 January 2014, 13:12 | Updated: 24 January 2014, 13:46

Thames Valley Police force is being investigated over the handling of an emergency call.

The call was made in the early hours of Friday, 13 December 2013 from a woman requesting police assistance. Later the same day another call was made to Thames Valley Police reporting a rape. The victim of which was same woman who had called the force requesting police assistance. 

Thames Valley Police referred the incident to the Independent Poilce Complaints Commission (IPCC) with an investigation now looking into how the force responded to the initial emergency call requesting police assistance and the force's response to the reported rape. 

The investigation is looking at the possible criminal offence of misconduct in public office in relation to a civilian call handler and at potential gross misconduct matters for a sergeant who was the control room supervisor. Interviews will take place at a later date. 

The IPCC's investigation is studying the actions taken by the call handler and her supervisor including whether appropriate risk assessments and grading of the call were made to find out what, if any, preconceptions may have influenced the actions taken by the call handler and also the force's policies and procedures for dealing with calls from vulnerable people. 

The investigation is also looking at TVP's response to the reported rape. 

IPCC Associate Commissioner Guido Liguori said: "As well as examining the actions of the call handler who spoke with the caller and the control room supervisor, our investigation is looking at how Thames Valley Police responded to the reporting of a serious crime. "These are serious and sensitive issues which demand to be fully and thoroughly investigated independently of the police. "Our investigator has met the victim to explain the IPCC's role and outline the investigation to her. Additionally I have offered to meet with her and answer any questions she may have. I will ensure she is kept informed as the investigation progresses. "I am mindful that criminal proceedings are ongoing therefore it would not be appropriate to provide further details at this stage."

Thames Valley Police says it would be appropriate to comment at this time because someone has been charged with the offence of rape.