A senior Metropolitan Police officer who gave a televised address fighting back tears after the Wimbledon crash in which two eight-year-old schoolgirls were killed is reportedly being investigated over her handling of the tragedy.
Clair Kelland is one of 11 officers from Scotland Yard facing a probe by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after a complaint by the girls' parents, including a claim of racial bias, the Sunday Times reported.
Friends Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau were killed when a 4x4 ploughed into a children's tea party on the lawn of The Study Preparatory School as pupils celebrated the last day of term in July 2023.
Kelland had oversight of the initial investigation into the crash, which failed to speak to key witnesses, the Sunday Times said.
She was later promoted from detective chief superintendent to a commander in charge of London's "public protection", with a special focus on combating violence against women and girls.
In June 2024, the Metropolitan Police said the driver of the Land Rover Defender which crashed into the school, Claire Freemantle, had suffered an epileptic seizure and would face no criminal charges.
She was rearrested and released under investigation in January last year. She has expressed her "deepest sorrow" over the incident.
On Tuesday the IOPC announced that it was investigating complaints made against 11 officers involved in the Wimbledon case.
The watchdog said: “The complaints relate to concerns about the standard of the [initial] investigation, including its management and direction, the conduct of the investigation team, and their engagement with the victims. We are also investigating allegations that Met officers provided false and misleading information to those affected and whether the officers’ treatment of those affected was influenced by their race.”
The IOPC said it had notified four serving officers, a commander, a detective chief inspector, a detective sergeant and a detective constable and a former detective inspector that they were being investigated for suspected gross misconduct. Two detective constables are being examined for potential misconduct offences.
The watchdog did not identify the individuals. However, The Sunday Times established that Kelland is the most senior officer under investigation.
Seen as a rising star of the Met, she previously took part in a roundtable discussion on sexual offending with the actress Jodie Comer, The Sunday Times reported.
At the time, Comer was starring in the award-winning West End play Prima Facie, which revolved around a barrister who defends rapists being assaulted herself.
After the crash, Kelland, who at the time was in charge of policing southwest London, arrived outside the gates of the prep school to deliver a statement to journalists and camera crews.
Struggling to hold back tears and with her voice breaking, Kelland said: "Our officers, along with our colleagues from the other emergency services, provided first aid to a number of people who had been injured. Very sadly, one of the children, an eight-year-old girl, died at the scene."
Reacting to the officers being investigated, the girls’ families said in a statement: “We have always maintained that the initial investigation was flawed.
“When the Crown Prosecution Service took the decision for no further action against the driver on the 26th of June 2024, we asserted that the original investigation was poor, and we were unconvinced that the investigation was conducted thoroughly.
“We are encouraged that the Independent Office of Police Conduct have opened an inquiry.
“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.
A Met spokesperson said: “Three officers under investigation by the IOPC for gross misconduct and served notices are on restricted duties. Two officers, under investigation for misconduct and served notices, are not on restricted duties.
“Consideration of the working status of each officer has been a rolling process since notices were served. The status of a further officer remains under review. We continue to assist the IOPC investigation. The serving of notices does not mean that misconduct proceedings will necessarily follow.”
The Met declined to comment on whether Kelland has been placed on restricted duties. Kelland was also contacted for comment by the Sunday Times.
