Greater Manchester Police is facing an independent inquiry into the way it investigated the death of a missing 12-year-old girl from Bury.
Shukri Yahye-Abde's body was pulled from the Irwell on Thursday, June 27, after her mother had reported her missing.
Her family believes she had been bullied at school. Bosses at Broad Oak Sports College are investigating that claim.
Shukri's loved ones have questioned the police investigation from the get-go. They said they do not believe her death was an accident.
GMP refutes that claim, insisting there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the child's death.
Now the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), has started its own investigation.
It will examine whether the officers 'prematurely concluded' Shruki's death wasn't suspicious and whether her family was treated less favourably because of their ethnic background.
The IOPC can decide to oversee an investigation by the force concerned, but on this occasion the watchdog has decided to conduct its own independent probe.
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IOPC Regional Director Amanda Rowe said: "We have met with Shukri Abdi’s family to offer our condolences and discuss this investigation, and we will provide them with regular updates as our work progresses.
"The death of a child is so very difficult to comprehend, and I know this is felt across the local community and beyond.
"I am aware that the circumstances of Shukri’s death is a concern to many, not least because there are many unanswered questions about how she came to be in the River Irwell that day.
"That is a matter for Greater Manchester Police and the coroner.
"Our role is to analyse what the police did and why. Our independent investigation is at a very early stage.
"We treat complaints of this nature with the upmost seriousness, and I know GMP share the view that the IOPC has a responsibility to examine the actions of the force after Shukri was reported missing – not least for public confidence."
Shukri's body was recovered from the water at around midnight in a secluded stretch of the river close to Bury police station, near a new business estate.
Her mother, Zamzam Ture, said she had no idea why her daughter was in the water as she could not swim.
Emergency services were called to the scene just before 8pm and launched a search for the missing child.
The spot where she is believed to have entered the water is fast flowing and near a weir. In parts, the water is 20ft deep.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Shukri’s devastated mother Zamzam has described her as a 'quiet girl'.
Shukri's uncle Mustaf Omar said: "She was a sweet and innocent child, she helped her mum 24/7.
"She helped her brothers and sisters all the time. I found out through family.
"Everything about it is out of character, she can’t swim.
"Her mum is absolutely devastated. She came to the country as a refugee.
"She was everything a child should be. We are just in shock. She’s the oldest of five."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 8172, quoting reference number 2154 of June 27; or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
