Misconduct inquiry over fatal schoolgirl crash
Misconduct inquiry over fatal schoolgirl crash
Metropolitan Police under scrutiny for handling 2023 incident
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an inquiry into the actions of 11 Metropolitan Police officers following a tragic crash in Wimbledon that claimed the lives of two young girls three years prior. Among those investigated are four current officers and one former detective constable, who may have committed gross misconduct. The probe centers on the initial response to the accident, which occurred during a school end-of-term tea party on the lawn of The Study Preparatory School in July 2023.
Crash and initial charges
A Land Rover driven by Claire Freemantle collided with the gathering, resulting in the deaths of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight years old. Freemantle was not formally charged by the Crown Prosecution Service, citing an undiagnosed epileptic seizure as the cause of the accident. However, the families of the victims have long contested the thoroughness of the original investigation, believing it to be flawed.
Family’s hope for clarity
The families, who expressed encouragement at the IOPC’s decision to investigate, emphasized their commitment to uncovering the full truth. “We have always sought the truth, and will continue to champion the pursuit of complete clarity on the events of that devastating day and subsequent actions taken by the Metropolitan Police,” they stated in a BBC statement. “The truth must come to light.” The inquiry began in August 2025, focusing on allegations of misleading information, racial bias in treatment, and the overall quality of the investigation.
Roles of officers under review
Among the officers being examined are individuals in the ranks of commander, detective chief inspector, detective sergeant, and detective constable. Two detective constables are also facing misconduct scrutiny. Cdr Charmain Brenyah, head of the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, acknowledged the families’ suffering. “Our thoughts remain with Nuria and Selena’s families, as well as everyone impacted by this tragedy,” she said. “It is right that our initial handling of this incident be independently scrutinised, and we will provide every assistance to the IOPC as their investigation continues.”
Reopened Met investigation
In October 2024, the Metropolitan Police announced it was revisiting the case after an internal review highlighted new lines of inquiry. Freemantle was re-arrested in January 2025 on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was interviewed again in July 2025. She had previously expressed “deepest sorrow” but claimed to have “no recollection of what took place” in 2024.
Crown Prosecution Service’s process
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it received a complete evidence file from the Met in March 2025 and sought further legal guidance. Despite this, additional factors remain under consideration before a final decision on charges is made. Nuria’s parents, speaking from their Wimbledon home surrounded by photos of their daughter, highlighted their frustration. “We hope the IOPC will cover that,” said Nuria’s mother, Smera Chohan. “I really want to understand why I have been treated so cruelly, unfairly, and in an inhumane way. I would like the keepers of law, of the system, to come and tell me.”
Ongoing concerns
Chohan, who is preparing for her fifth surgery after sustaining injuries in the same incident, voiced her disappointment with the prolonged uncertainty. “I am not asking for any favourism, any leeway, or any sympathy. I’m just saying ‘do it right.’ It’s been left hanging for three years and that isn’t right,” she added. Nuria’s father, Sajjad Butt, echoed these sentiments. “We are deeply concerned—the CPS has left us in the dark. As the organisation that is supposed to move towards justice for victims, it seems rather unwilling to engage with victims. The last time we were treated unfairly, we know that now, and we’re concerned that that’s going to happen again. The system is broken—the system is supposed to protect victims and we are not protected. We have been left out in the cold.”
