Caroline Flack – Met could face investigation by police watchdog over contact with TV star before her death
THE METROPOLITAN Police has referred itself to the police watchdog following the death of Love Island star Caroline Flack.
Scotland Yard’s directorate of professional standards reviewed all previous contact with the TV presenter, 40, before making the referral today.
It is standard practice for a referral to be made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct when a person dies or is seriously injured after recent contact with police, the force said.
A Met spokesman said no officers have been suspended, placed on restricted duties, or served with investigation notices, and no issues have been identified.
A statement added: “Following the review, the MPS made a mandatory referral to the IOPC to allow for an independent assessment.
“No notice of investigation has been served on any officer and no conduct issues have been identified by the DPS. No officer is on restricted duties or suspended.”
The IOPC said: “We will make a decision on the level of our involvement after carefully assessing the information we have received.
“Receipt of a referral does not mean an investigation will necessarily follow.”
Caroline took her own life at her North London home on Saturday as she awaited trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
On Wednesday, her family shared an unpublished Instagram post written by the star, in which she revealed she felt that the “walls” she had built around herself had “collapsed”.
Caroline, who was described as “vulnerable” by her management, stepped down from presenting the current winter series of Love Island after she was charged with assaulting Lewis at her flat in Islington in December.
In the post, she denied assaulting Burton, saying it was an “accident”.
She entered a not guilty plea to the assault charge at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court and was said to be determined to prove her innocence.
Her bail conditions banned her from having contact with her boyfriend ahead of a trial next month.
Her Instagram post said: “I have always taken responsibility for what happened that night. Even on the night.
“But the truth is … It was an accident.”
She had written that she had “been having some sort of emotional breakdown for a very long time”, adding: “But I am not a domestic abuser.
“We had an argument and an accident happened. An accident.”
TRAGIC DEATH
The unpublished statement came as an inquest into Flack’s death heard that the TV star was found “lying on her back” after an apparent hanging.
The hearing on Wednesday at Poplar Coroner’s Court, which lasted four minutes, was adjourned until August 5.
In a statement released on Saturday night, her management company criticised the Crown Prosecution Service for pressing ahead with what it called her “show trial” even after her boyfriend said he did not support it.
Love Island did not air on Saturday or Sunday as a mark of respect to her family and returned on Monday with a tribute to the TV star, who started hosting the programme in 2015.
The tragedy has put the spotlight back on the pressures which come with TV celebrity.
Caroline is the third person linked to Love Island to have killed themselves.
Sophie Gradon, who appeared as a contestant in the show in 2016, was found dead at her home in 2018 at the age of 32.
Mike Thalassitis, who appeared in the 2017 series, was 26 when he was found dead in a park in March last year.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123