Misconduct inquiry over fatal schoolgirl crash

Misconduct inquiry over fatal schoolgirl crash

Following an internal review, the Metropolitan Police has initiated a fresh examination of the incident in which two schoolgirls were killed in Wimbledon. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an inquiry into the conduct of 11 officers, including four serving personnel and one former detective constable, for potential gross misconduct in their initial response to the crash. The accident occurred in July 2023 when a Land Rover driven by Claire Freemantle collided with a tea party on the school lawn, resulting in the deaths of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight years old.

Freemantle was not formally charged, as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) cited an undiagnosed epileptic seizure as the cause. However, the families of the victims have consistently argued that the investigation was inadequate. In a statement to the BBC, they expressed hope that the IOPC’s inquiry would deliver the clarity they have long sought. “We have always sought the truth, and will continue to champion the pursuit of complete clarity on the events of that devastating day and subsequent actions taken by the Metropolitan Police,” they said. “The truth must come to light.”

The IOPC began its investigation in August 2025, focusing on allegations that Met officers provided misleading information to those affected and whether their treatment of victims was influenced by racial bias. The inquiry will also evaluate the investigation’s management, direction, and the conduct of the team involved. The ranks of the officers under review include a commander, detective chief inspector, detective sergeant, and detective constable, alongside two other detective constables.

“Our thoughts remain with Nuria and Selena’s families, as well as everyone who has been impacted by this terrible tragedy,” said Cdr Charmain Brenyah, leader of the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command. “We understand this prolonged process has compounded their grief and suffering. It is right that our initial handling of this incident be independently scrutinised, and we will provide every assistance to the IOPC as their investigation continues.”

The Met announced its decision to reopen the case in October 2024, citing new lines of inquiry. Freemantle was re-arrested in January 2025 on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was interviewed again in July 2025. During a previous statement in 2024, she expressed “deepest sorrow” but claimed she had “no recollection of what took place.”

The CPS confirmed it received a complete file of evidence from the Met Police on 17 March and was provided with additional legal guidance recently. However, it stated that further factors must be considered before a charge could be finalized. Nuria’s parents, who are still recovering from injuries sustained in the same incident, conveyed their frustration over the delayed resolution. “I am not asking for any favouritism, any leeway or any sympathy,” said Nuria’s mother, Smera Chohan. “I’m just saying ‘do it right’. It’s been left hanging for three years and that isn’t right.”

“We are deeply concerned — the CPS has left us in the dark,” added Nuria’s father, Sajjad Butt. “As the organisation that is supposed to move towards justice for victims, it seems rather unwilling to engage with victims. The last time we were treated unfairly, we know that now, and we’re concerned that that’s going to happen again. The system is broken — the system is supposed to protect victims and we are not protected. We have been left out in the cold.”