Misconduct inquiry over fatal schoolgirl crash
Misconduct Inquiry Over Fatal Schoolgirl Crash
Metropolitan Police Officers Under Scrutiny
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is examining 11 Metropolitan Police officers for their handling of the early stages of an incident in Wimbledon that claimed the lives of two schoolgirls three years ago. This inquiry, initiated by the police watchdog, involves four current officers and one former detective constable, with allegations of possible gross misconduct under review.
In July 2023, a Land Rover driven by Claire Freemantle struck a gathering of students at the end of the school term, resulting in the deaths of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight years old. Freemantle was not charged by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) due to an undiagnosed epileptic seizure, though the families of the girls consistently argued the initial investigation was inadequate.
“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 to the BBC.
The IOPC launched its investigation in August 2025, focusing on claims that Met officers provided misleading information to those affected and whether their treatment of victims was influenced by racial factors. The inquiry will also assess the investigation’s management, direction, team conduct, and engagement with the families of the deceased.
The four serving officers under investigation hold ranks including commander, detective chief inspector, detective sergeant, and detective constable. Additionally, two detective constables are being scrutinized at the misconduct level. Cdr Charmain Brenyah, leading the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, expressed solidarity with the families, acknowledging the emotional toll of the prolonged process.
“Our thoughts remain with Nuria and Selena’s families, as well as everyone impacted by this terrible tragedy. We understand the extended process has added to their grief and suffering,” Brenyah stated.
The Metropolitan Police announced in October 2024 that it was reopening its investigation after an internal review highlighted 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. In a 2024 statement, she expressed deep sorrow but claimed no memory of the incident.
The CPS confirmed receiving a complete evidence file from the Met on 17 March and received additional legal guidance last week, though further considerations are needed before a charging decision. Nuria’s parents, speaking from their Wimbledon home amid photographs of their daughter, emphasized their hope that the IOPC would reveal how the Met had “failed” them.
“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 has undergone five surgeries on her legs following injuries sustained in the same crash, questioned when a decision would be finalized. “I am not asking for any favoritism or sympathy. I’m just saying ‘do it right,’ she said, highlighting the three-year delay as unjust.
Sajjad Butt, Nuria’s father, voiced concerns about the CPS’s lack of transparency. “We are deeply concerned—the CPS has left us in the dark,” he remarked. “As the organization meant to serve victims, it seems reluctant to engage with them. We know the last time we were treated unfairly, and we fear it may happen again. The system is broken, and it should protect us, not leave us out in the cold.”