The IOPC investigation involves four serving police officers and one former detective constable for possible gross misconduct over their handling of the original investigation. The ranks of the four serving officers under investigation include a commander, detective chief inspector, detective sergeant, and detective constable.
Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight, died after being hit by a Land Rover while playing within the grounds of The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, south-west London, in July 2023, during an end-of-year tea party. Nine children and three adults were also seriously injured in the crash.
The driver, Claire Freemantle, claimed she suffered an undiagnosed epileptic seizure and had no recollection of the crash. She was initially arrested on the day of the incident but prosecutors later decided not to bring criminal charges.
The Metropolitan Police reopened its investigation into the crash in October 2024 following an internal review. Claire Freemantle was re-arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Claire Freemantle is currently on bail and will report to a police station later this month. The Crown Prosecution Service is considering charges after receiving a full file of evidence from the Met and seeking legal advice, with further factors to consider before a decision.
Prosecutors wrote to the victims' families on Friday to say they expected to announce a charging decision by the end of April. The families are due to meet with the CPS on Tuesday for an update.
The families of the victims allege unconscious bias and flaws in the initial investigation, suggesting officers were more inclined to believe Claire Freemantle because she is a wealthy white woman.
The IOPC previously announced it was unconvinced that the investigation was conducted thoroughly. The internal Met review found the original probe failed to interview key witnesses at the scene about the driver's behaviour in the aftermath.
Police have appealed to witnesses of the crash to come forward to help investigate whether the driver's behaviour was consistent with her diagnosis. Claire Freemantle lives in a £4 million Wimbledon home with her investment banker husband.
Epileptic seizures can only be detected with a brain scan taken shortly after they occur, making the claim difficult to explore.
The specific evidence or factors the Crown Prosecution Service is still considering before making a charging decision against Claire Freemantle remain unclear, as do the exact allegations of false and misleading information provided by the officers under IOPC investigation.
How the internal Met review identified missed opportunities, and what key witnesses were not interviewed in the original investigation, has not been detailed publicly, nor has the current medical status or diagnosis of Claire Freemantle regarding epilepsy, and how it has been verified since the crash.
What actions or disciplinary measures, if any, have been taken against the officers under investigation while the IOPC probe is ongoing is also unknown, as the IOPC typically does not disclose such details until investigations conclude.