Late Love Island host Caroline Flack took her own life in February 2020 after learning she would face a trial for the alleged assault of her boyfriend Lewis Burton
The police watchdog has decided that the circumstances leading up to Caroline Flack being charged with assault were “reasonably and proportionate”. The late Love Island host took her own life in February 2020 after learning she was to face trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton. She died at the age of 40.
Initially, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had recommended a caution over the December 2019 incident. However the Metropolitan Police appealed and she was subsequently charged with assault by beating.
After a number of reviews into how the case was handled, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has closed its latest investigation.
They found in January of this year that the Met Police officers’ actions leading up to the charge was “reasonable and proportionate”.
The IOPC got a complaint referral from the Met Police, containing “a number of allegations about the force’s investigation” in March last year.
Most of the allegations had been investigated previously and reviewed by the IOPC so it found no more action was needed.
The Met was, however, directed to look into one aspect of the complaint as “there may be new witness evidence available”.
It was in relation to the actions of officers appealing the CPS’s initial decision.
An IOPC spokesperson told Sky News that five allegations went to the force’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) to “resolve in a proportionate manner”.
Last June, the Met found that no new evidence would have changed the previous outcomes, but the complainant asked for the IOPC to look into it again.
The IOPC said: “Following that review, in January 2025 we found that outcome to be reasonable and proportionate.”
Meanwhile, a Met Police spokesperson said: “It did not change the original outcome that the service provided by officers was acceptable.
“The family were advised of the outcome in June [2024] and then appealed that outcome to the IOPC.
“The IOPC carried out a review and, in January 2025, found no new evidence that would alter any of the previous outcomes.”
The IOPC have said another review could come about if there was any new evidence.
Caroline’s mother had previously said she believed the fact her daughter was a celebrity meant she was treated different.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
