A review of the much-criticised police investigation into missing King’s College student nurse Owami Davies has concluded there was “no evidence of racial bias”.
It found that police forces could improve the way they share missing person information with each other, but that the investigation was carried out with “compassion and care”.
Owami, 24, from Essex, was reported missing on July 6 and found safe and well on August 23 in Hampshire. Five people were arrested on suspicion of murder and kidnap but later released.
The review comes after the Metropolitan Police was criticised by some for being slow to investigate Owami’s case because of her skin colour.
Commander Paul Brogden said: “This was the biggest missing person investigation conducted by the Met this year and officers worked tirelessly over several weeks to ensure Owami was found safe and well.
“As with any large policing operation, we have worked with our advisory groups to review our actions. I’m pleased that their feedback was largely positive, both about the officers involved and our handling of the investigation,” he added.
People questioned the police investigation when it emerged that officers had spoken to Owami hours after she was reported missing on July, 6.
The review found that police did not immediately circulate Owami’s missing person file on the national system so the officers visiting her could not have known they were speaking to a missing person.
Commander Brogden said “how a missing person enquiry is transferred from one force to another” was an “important learning point”.
Owami Davies: Guy’s and St Thomas’ boss ‘devastated’ by missing student nurse
The report said the delay was because Essex officers were responding to two high-risk missing person investigations and an attempted murder investigation in the same policing district.
One of the police appeals for information on missing Owami also contained an image of a woman who was not her. The report said the mistake was due to human error, not racial bias.
Members of the Central Race Independent Advisory Group (IAG) were closely linked with the investigation and encouraged to offer criticism.
They were satisfied there was no evidence of racial bias. Police will be presenting the findings of the review to the Central Race IAG next month.