Three police officers are facing disciplinary action over the case of a woman who was fined for wasting police time when she reported her stalker ex who then went on to murder her.
Shana Grice, 19, reported her ex-boyfriend Michael Lane five times before he slit her throat and tried to burn her body. Her parents criticized Sussex Police for “treating her like a criminal” and said the action was “too little too late”.
Two officers will face gross misconduct proceedings at public hearings in May and a third officer will face internal misconduct action.
Sharon Grice and Richard Green said: “Our daughter took her concerns to the police and instead of being protected was treated like a criminal. She paid for the police’s lack of training, care and poor attitude with her life.
“It’s only right that the police make changes, but it’s too little, too late for Shana.
“Sussex Police should not be applauded for this.”
No action will be taken against five officers who were investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) while six other force employees have been given management advice and further training.
The independent report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) was commissioned after Miss Grice was murdered in her bedroom in Portslade, near Brighton, East Sussex in 2016.
Michael Lane fitted a tracker to Miss Grice’s car and stole a house key to sneak into her bedroom as she slept. He was given a life sentence in 2017 with a minimum term of 25 years. It later emerged that 13 other woman had reported him to the police for stalking.
Assistant Chief Constable Nick May said: “We deeply regret the tragic death of Shana Grice in 2016 and are committed to constantly improving our understanding of stalking and our response to it.
“When we looked at the circumstances leading to Shana’s murder, we felt we may not have done the very best we could and made a referral to the IOPC.”
Sarah Green, co-director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: “The police watchdog findings that Sussex Police failed and that there will be misconduct hearings are welcome, but much more is needed.
“Numerous inquests and inquiries have found that multiple police forces have failed to protect women who were murdered.”
Sussex Police have been given three months to make improvements.
