Hampshire police referred to watchdog over “prior contact” to “loving” grandmother found dead
A man has been charged with murder
Hampshire police has been referred to an independent industry watchdog over “prior (police) contact” to a “kind and loving” grandmother being found dead - with a man charged for murder.
Officers were called just before 10am on Monday 14 September to a “concern for welfare” following a “domestic incident” at an address on Cyprus Road, Fratton, before discovering Carole Langley, 74, dead.
Scott Langley, 48, of St. Pauls Road in Southsea, has been charged with murder and one count of assaulting an emergency worker and is due before Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday.
Hampshire police told The News on Tuesday they had not made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over their response to the incident but by Wednesday evening said they had. “A mandatory referral to the IOPC has been made in relation to the response to this incident,” the force said.
Hampshire police has not yet responded on details for its mandatory referral but the IOPC said it relates to “contact made with police prior to her death”. Specifically, this was in relation to a phone call made to the force on the morning of Monday (14 September) before Ms Langley was found dead.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We have received a mandatory referral from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary relating to the death of Carole Langley following police contact on 14 September.
“The force attended a report of a domestic incident where Mrs Langley was located and sadly pronounced deceased. We are assessing the referral and will decide whether further action is required from us.”
In a tribute from Carole’s family, they said: “Carole was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and sister.
“She was a kind and loving person who always put her family and loved ones before herself. Her love, kindness and beautiful memories will live on in all of us.
“The family would like to thank everyone who has left kind messages of condolence but please ask to respect our privacy at this very difficult time.”