Misconduct inquiry over fatal schoolgirl crash
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating eleven Metropolitan Police officers for their role in the early stages of a fatal crash in Wimbledon that claimed the lives of two young girls three years ago. Four current officers and one former detective constable face scrutiny for potential gross misconduct, according to the BBC. The incident, which occurred during an end-of-term gathering on the school grounds in July 2023, resulted in the deaths of eight-year-olds Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau after a Land Rover driven by Claire Freemantle collided with the event.
Initial investigation and family concerns
Freemantle was not charged initially, as the Crown Prosecution Service cited an undiagnosed epileptic seizure as the reason. However, the girls’ families have consistently argued the investigation lacked thoroughness. They expressed hope that the IOPC’s inquiry would provide clarity on the events of that day and the Met’s subsequent actions, emphasizing their desire for the truth to emerge.
“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,” said the families in a statement. “The truth must come to light.”
Scope of the inquiry
The IOPC’s investigation, which began in August 2025, will examine claims that Met officers provided inaccurate or misleading information to those affected. It will also assess whether racial factors influenced the treatment of victims. The watchdog will review the investigation’s management, team conduct, and engagement with the families of Nuria and Selena.
The officers under investigation include a commander, a detective chief inspector, a detective sergeant, and a detective constable, along with two additional detective constables. Cdr Charmain Brenyah, who oversees the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, acknowledged the families’ grief and stated the police would support the inquiry fully.
Reopened probe and new evidence
The Met had previously reopened its investigation in October 2024 following an internal review. Freemantle was re-arrested in January 2025 on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was interviewed again in July 2025. During a prior statement in 2024, she conveyed her “deepest sorrow” but claimed to have “no recollection of what took place.”
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it received the full evidence file from the Met on 17 March and received further legal guidance last week. Nonetheless, additional factors remain to be considered before a decision on charges can be finalized.
“I hope the IOPC will cover that,” said Nuria’s mother, Smera Chohan. “I really want to understand why I have been treated so cruelly, unfairly and in an inhumane way. I would like the keepers of law, of the system, to come and tell me.”
Chohan, who sustained injuries in the crash and is set for her fifth leg surgery, criticized the police’s handling of the case. She questioned why the incident had not received a “competent and thorough investigation” and accused the system of failing to protect victims. Her husband, Sajjad Butt, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “The CPS has left us in the dark. As the organisation that is supposed to move towards justice for victims, it seems rather unwilling to engage with victims.”
The families remain frustrated by the lack of resolution, feeling the process has been prolonged and unjust. Prosecutors reached out to the family shortly after the BBC requested a response, but the parents believe the system continues to leave them without answers. Their concerns highlight a broader issue of accountability and transparency in the investigation process.
