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LGBT+ Independent Advisory Group

Voluntary group of independent lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advisors working with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) at New Scotland Yard. Advises on and monitor police issues that affect LGBT people who live in, work in, study in or are visiting London.

Initially, the Group was only invited to advise the Racial and Violent Crime Task Force (CO24), now the Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate (DCFD). However, as the quality of its advice has been recognised, the Group is increasingly invited to participate in a wide range of strategy and policy work.

IOPC update on the investigation into the MPS handling of the Barking and Dagenham murders

On 24 January 2022, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) attended the LGBT+ Advisory Group's community meeting on the deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor. The Group asked him for an explanation of the process to decide whether to re-open the IOPC investigation into the MPS handling of the four murders. The Group received more details on 9/2/22 and you can read the full letter here. In summary:

The IOPC is aware that "some of the information coming to light was potentially new information". So, they have embarked on an "initial assessment" to see if there are "compelling reasons" to re-open the investigation. There are two criteria that must both be satisfied:

The first criterion:
(1a) There is significant new information that requires further investigation and a real possibility that the new information, had it been available, would have led wholly or partly to different decisions on discipline, performance and/or referral to the CPS;
OR (1b) The original [IOPC] investigation was flawed in a manner which had a material impact on subsequent decisions on discipline, performance and/or referral to the CPS.
The second criterion: 
(2) It is necessary to require a reinvestigation in the public interest.
They are at this "initial assessment" phase. They are unable to give a clear timescale for when this will be completed. 

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LGBT Advisory Group | LGBT Advisory Group
LGBT Advisory Group | LGBT Advisory Group

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