An officer from the force that has been under scrutiny for the handling of the Nicola Bulley case is under investigation accused of gross misconduct regarding the death of another mum who was reported missing. An appeal was launched to trace Kiena Dawes, 23, last July before she was found dead just hours later, the Mirror reports.
Her family said the young mother was the victim of abuse which caused her to take her own life and claimed she was 'let down' by Lancashire Police. The police watchdog said an officer from the force is now facing investigation after a man who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Kiena 11 days before she died was released on bail.
They added that this doesn't necessarily mean misconduct proceedings will follow. The investigation is ongoing but the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed the anonymous officer has now been served notice and faces potential misconduct proceedings.
An IOPC spokesperson said: "Our investigation into prior contact between Lancashire Constabulary and Kiena Dawes, before her death on July 22, 2022 continues. We have been looking at the police response when Miss Dawes was reported missing, as well as reports that she had been the victim of assaults.
"Having obtained and reviewed a number of statements from witnesses, to understand the nature of the contact between officers and Miss Dawes, an officer has been served notice for gross misconduct in relation to their actions leading up to a man being released on bail earlier in July last year. This does not necessarily mean that misconduct proceedings will follow.
"Our thoughts remain with Miss Dawes' loved ones and all those affected by her death." Kiena was reported missing on July 22 last year but before family and friends could locate the 23-year-old, they received the heartbreaking news that her body had been found just after 1pm.
Kiena was discovered in Garstang, Lancs and Lancashire Police confirmed a man had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting her just days before her death. Despite the allegations, the man was released on bail pending further investigation and no charges were held against him.
Kiena's devastated family claimed she had been living in fear and had repeatedly asked the police for help in the weeks leading up to her tragic death. They disclosed horrific photos of her looking bloodied and bruised after an alleged assault which took place after officers fitted panic alarms in her home.
Lancashire Police later confirmed a mandatory referral had been made to the IOPC which looked into whether the force acted sufficiently in response to reports of violence against Kiena and to locate her once she was reported missing.
IOPC regional director Catherine Bates added: "The death of Kiena Dawes is a tragedy that has had a devastating impact on her family and friends. Our thoughts remain with her loved ones and all those affected.
"Our independent investigation will help establish the actions taken by police, both in response to reports of violence and to locate her once she was reported missing. We have spoken to Miss Dawes' family to explain our role and will keep them updated on the progress of our investigation."
Kiena's older brother Kynan said that the force had fitted her home with a panic alarm before she died and given her a special necklace that had a button on it she could press to alert them. However, this didn't stop her attacker from breaking into her home and allegedly splitting her head open which left her 'completely traumatised'.
He said the police should have done more to help her bring her alleged attacker to court. He said at the time: "The police have let my sister down, they have. She wanted to go through the legal route to get justice.
"The girl is dead now, but it should have gone to CPS ages ago. She didn't want to live a life the way she was living, so she ended it.
"They did not do enough. The head of CID is going to go through everything with a toothpick. They're going to find out why nothing happened, and why it got to the point where she felt she wasn't being looked after by the service, which she should be, and decided to take her life."
The force recently came under fire for the way it handled the Nicola Bulley case in nearby St Michael's on Wyre after they revealed personal details of Nicola's health issues regarding alcohol problems due to menopause.
Their decision to disclose such private information resulted in a backlash from campaigners, MPs and legal experts with some accusing the police of breaching her privacy.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "First and foremost our thoughts are with Kiena Dawes' loved ones at this difficult time. We referred ourselves to the IOPC in July 2022 in relation to contact we had with Kiena before her death.
"The IOPC are currently conducting an independent investigation and as this remains ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time."
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