The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has increased its investigation into the reaction of the Gwent and South Wales police forces to appeals for help in the search for five young people. The group was found in a crashed car up to 46 hours after they went missing, with three fatalities and two serious injuries. Both forces have referred themselves to the IOPC amid claims from families and friends that the authorities failed to take their concerns seriously and that members of the public, rather than officers, discovered the car. Initial plans for an assessment have been expedited. Missing person reports had been filed to both forces since the group disappeared after a night out in Newport.

Source: The Guardian March 07, 2023 14:54 UTC