Police waited months to inform families of misconductpublished at 14:30 GMT
14:30 GMT
Although Griffin was specifically informed of police staff looking at distressing images and footage of the attacks inappropriately in September 2023, the victims’ families were not told of this until January.
The inquiry has heard in December, Griffin was informed of three specific misconduct matters by then senior investigating officer Leigh Sanders. They involved:
PC Matthew Gell
A front counter clerk
Another PC
By that point, the families affected had still not been informed of any misconduct. Griffin said at the time he did not believe incidents involving the first two people needed to be disclosed, which he said was “regrettable”.
He said he wanted the matter involving the other PC to be disclosed to the families, but it was suggested to him this should be done after Christmas.
Sanders informed the families in January, however Griffin said he was not happy about how it was handled.
“It
transpired that although Leigh had told them, he had not told them in the
detail that I thought they ought to have been told, which was hurtful and as
upsetting, as it was going to be,” he said.
“It was my view that the families deserved and
had the right to know.”