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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Saffron Otter & Sarah McGee

Metropolitan Police refers itself to watchdog over death of Caroline Flack

The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over contact it had with Caroline Flack before she took her own life.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the 40-year-old's body was discovered in her London flat on Saturday.

Scotland Yard has reviewed all previous contact the Metropolitan Police had with the star, before making the referral to the independent watchdog.

It is standard practice for a referral to be made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after a member of the public dies, or is seriously injured, after recent contact with the police.

A spokesman for the Met Police said no officers had been suspended, placed on restricted duties, or served with investigation notices.

An IOPC spokesman said: "We will make a decision on the level of our involvement after carefully assessing the information we have received.

"Receipt of a referral does not mean an investigation will necessarily follow."

Caroline Flack appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in December (Mirrorpix)

The Love Island presenter was awaiting trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, Lewis Burton, 27.

She pleaded not guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court in December, and stepped down from her presenting duties following the charge.

Her boyfriend did not support the prosecution and wanted to drop the charges.

Caroline's family recently shared an unpublished Instagram post with the public, revealing that the presenter felt like “walls” she had built around herself had "collapsed".

She wrote: "I have always taken responsibility for what happened that night. Even on the night.

"But the truth is… It was an accident.

"I’ve been having some sort of emotional breakdown for a very long time.

"But I am not a domestic abuser.

"We had an argument and an accident happened. An accident."

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