A policing watchdog has asked a force to conduct its own investigation into the handling of the search for Runcorn dad Jamie Grimwood.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it received a self-referral from British Transport Police (BTP) on September 15.
An IOPC spokesman said the watchdog had referred the matter back to BTP to complete its own investigation, and to consider referring it back to the IOPC if the probe finds any concerns relating to the conduct of officers or staff.
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Mr Grimwood’s body was discovered next to a railway line running parallel to Chester Road in Flint on September 11, more than two weeks after the 23-year-old father-of-one was last seen and reported missing on August 23.
During the resulting search, North Wales Police reported that Mr Grimwood’s dark grey Audi had been found parked in a car park next to Flint Fire Station opposite Park Avenue on Monday, August 23.
The location was a short distance from where Jamie’s body was found near the ATS garage and where he was last seen driving along Chester Road at 7.42pm that evening.
North Wales Live reported on Monday an inquest opening had heard Mr Grimwood was found in undergrowth and identified by dental records.
Provisional cause of death was given as neck compression.
The inquest has been adjourned to recommence at a later date.
The IOPC spokesman told the ECHO: “We received a referral on September 15 from British Transport Police concerning police searches carried out for Jamie Grimwood after he was reported missing.
“After careful assessment of the referral and relevant information, we have decided there should be an investigation carried out locally by the force.
“We have advised that if any concerns arise in the course of the investigation about the conduct of police officers or staff involved then a re-referral to the IOPC should be considered.”
Mr Grimwood’s disappearance and death prompted a huge outpouring of sympathy and support online, with tributes remembering the deceased as “amazing” and a “bright, welcoming, genuine young man, a loved son, brother, nephew, grandson and dad to his young son".
A fundraiser set up in his memory has raised nearly £7,000 to help his family.
Details can be found here.
The IOPC reported in 2019 that a person is recorded as missing once every two minutes in England and Wales.
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