Mum says ‘our grief has been taken to another place’ after PCs ‘took selfies next to her daughters’ dead bodies’
A MUM has said “our grief has been taken to another place” after two cops shared pictures of the bodies of her murdered daughters. The Metropolitan Police officers have been arrested after allegedly taking a selfie with murdered Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, and sharing the photo on WhatsApp. Mina Smallman, the first […]
A MUM has said “our grief has been taken to another place” after two cops shared pictures of the bodies of her murdered daughters.
The Metropolitan Police officers have been arrested after allegedly taking a selfie with murdered Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, and sharing the photo on WhatsApp.
Mina Smallman, the first BAME archdeacon in the Anglican Church, has also complained to the police watchdog about the Met’s initial response – saying she had to organise a search for her daughters.
The former Archdeacon of Southend said the pictures “dehumanised” her children.
She said: “They were nothing to them and what’s worse, they sent them on to members of the public.”
Senior officers from the Met and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) personally visited the family to explain what had happened after they were made aware of the alleged photographs.
Mrs Smallman added: “This has taken our grief to another place.
“If ever we needed an example of how toxic it has become, those police officers felt so safe, so untouchable, that they felt they could take photographs of dead black girls and send them on.
“It speaks volumes of the ethos that runs through the Metropolitan Police.”
She claimed the police were “making assumptions” when they didn’t immediately respond when the sisters were first reported missing.
She said: “I knew instantly why they didn’t care. They didn’t care because they looked at my daughter’s address and thought they knew who she was.
“A black woman who lives on a council estate.”
Met Chief Cressida Dick said she was “appalled and dumbfounded” after two of her cops shared the photos.
Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida said: “My heart goes out to the family.
“In relation to the allegations about a photograph, I am dumbfounded. I am appalled.”
She continued: “I don’t know all the details but if it is as it appears to be then it is shocking.
“It is disgusting and the whole of the Met would condemn what has happened here.
“If those officers’ actions have added to the families’ unimaginable distress, then I apologise from the bottom of my heart.”
Nicole and Bibaa were found stabbed to death in Fryent Country Park in North London earlier this month.
Labour MP Dawn Butler said the officers had taken a selfie with the bodies.
‘SO DISTURBING’
She told Channel 4 News: “It is so disturbing. To take a selfie with two dead women and then to share that on a forum.”
Detectives believe the sisters were killed by a stranger in the Wembley park after meeting pals there on June 5 to celebrate Bibaa’s birthday.
The pair, who were in a group of ten, stayed until past midnight after the rest of the group dispersed and were found shortly after 1pm on on June 7.
The bodies of the two women were found next to each other, with a post-mortem examination later revealing they both died from multiple stab wounds.
The suspect is thought to have suffered a “significant injury” during the incident.
A criminal inquiry is now under way into the “inappropriate” photo taken at the murder scene, and allegedly sent to a group of people on WhatsApp, which included members of the public.
It was reported to Scotland Yard’s directorate of professional standards, which referred it to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating.
Two police officers were arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Both had been sent to guard the scene after the bodies were found.
The IOPC said: “The investigation relates to allegations that inappropriate photographs were taken at a homicide crime scene and subsequently shared with a small number of others.
“The Metropolitan Police service is handling matters involving those members of the public who may have received those images.
“Two Metropolitan Police constables were arrested by IOPC investigators on Monday June 22 and have been bailed to a later date pending further enquiries.”
Sal Naseem, the IOPC director for London, said: “These are sickening allegations and when we were made aware by the Metropolitan police we acted quickly to arrest the officers involved in order to seize vital evidence.
“The victims’ family are naturally extremely distressed at this turn of events and we are ensuring that they are updated as our investigation is progressing.”
The IOPC is also investigating whether police properly carried out their search after the siblings were reported missing.
A 36-year-old man arrested in south London on suspicion of murder was released with no further action.
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Bibaa, from Brent in north-west London, was an “exceptional” senior social worker and “a passionate advocate for safeguarding vulnerable children and families”.
Nicole, from Harrow in north-west London, was the youngest of three sisters, described as someone who “saw beauty in everything” and had a “very calm and positive attitude towards most things in life”.
In a statement, the family added: “The greatest fear of any parent is that they will outlive their children.
“What makes our situation unique is that two adored sisters were murdered together on the same night.
“The grief we feel is palpable, our beautiful and talented daughters gone.”
