Richard Okorogheye: A guard dog will examine the police management of his disappearance after his mother’s complaints | UK News

The police watchdog must investigate the Met’s handling of Richard Okorogheye’s disappearance following complaints from his mother.

The 19-year-old, who suffered from sickle cell disease and reportedly struggled with armor during the pandemic, went missing after leaving his family home in Ladbroke Grove, west London, on the evening of March 22.

The next day his mother, Evidence Joel, contacted the police – but Mr. Okorogheye was only officially registered as missing on March 24 at 8 a.m.

Her body was found in a lake in Epping Forest on April 5, and her mother later said she was “disappointed” by the police’s initial response to her disappearance.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now said it will investigate her complaints about how she was first treated by the police and how her reports of her son’s disappearance have been processed.

The IOPC Fund will also examine whether the ethnicity of her mother or that of her mother played a role in how early reports of her disappearance were handled.

And he will investigate whether the Met “has responded appropriately” to concerns about his disappearance.

It will also consider whether the force properly assessed those reports and whether the amount of resources the Met devoted to its investigations was appropriate based on information known to police.

IOPC Fund Regional Director Sal Naseem said: “Our hearts go out to Richard’s family and friends and everyone affected by this tragic loss. We spoke to his family and explained our role.

“Our investigation will determine whether the police responded appropriately to the concerns raised by Richard’s disappearance.

“We will consider whether the force has appropriately assessed the risks of these reports, and whether the amount of resources …