Caroline Flack was found dead in February 2020 at the age of 40
(Picture: PA Archive)The Met Police has apologised to the family of late TV presenter Caroline Flack over not keeping a record of the decision to charge her with assault.
The police watchdog, the IOPC, carried out a review after complaints from the late television presenter's mother.
Flack was found dead in February 2020 at the age of 40. She had been facing prosecution over allegedly assaulting her boyfriend.
She had been due to appear in court over the alleged assault of her then-boyfriend Lewis Burton in the weeks before her death.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had recommended she receive only a caution but this was appealed by the Met, leading to the star facing a charge of assault by beating.
An IOPC review “did not identify any misconduct” in the Met’s decision, but recommended the force apologise to the family over its lack of record keeping.
An inquest into the Xtra Factor presenter’s death heard that her mental health had deteriorated after her arrest.
Her mother Christine Flack had complained that her daughter was treated differently than other members of the public.
A senior police officer at the inquest said there was no bias involved on the basis of the star’s fame.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: “The review did not identify any misconduct but concluded that an officer should receive reflective practice.
“This was about the requirement to review all case material and record a balanced rationale, demonstrating objective decision making by exploring aggravating and mitigating factors, when appealing a CPS decision.
“The IOPC also asked the Met to apologise to Ms Flack’s family about there not being a record of the rationale to appeal the CPS decision.
“We have done so and acknowledged the impact that this has had on them.”
The spokesperson added: “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Ms Flack's family for their loss.”
After the apology, the star’s mother told the Eastern Daily Press: “They have apologised for how they handled my complaint - but what they really should be apologising for is the way Carrie was treated.
“A lot of the apology letter felt copied and pasted and I feel like they have only done it because the IOPC suggested they ought to.”
