Questions over police search as Cardiff car crash victims found two days after going missing

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. David Ford, IOPC director, said: “After careful assessment of referrals from Gwent Police and South Wales Police, we have decided to independently investigate how police responded to the missing person reports.” The group had been to a social club in Maesglas, Newport, on Friday night and were thought to then have travelled 40 miles to the Trecco Bay area of Porthcawl. open image in gallery Sophie’s mother Anna Certowicz drove around south Wales looking for her daughter According to the College of Policing guidelines, which is followed by UK forces, high risk is where “the risk of serious harm to the subject or the public is assessed as very likely” while low risk is where “the risk of harm to the subject or the public is assessed as possible but minimal.” Mr Babu said that, given the five young people were missing on a night out, it “wouldn’t be unreasonable” for the officers to grade the case as low risk initially, but said this would have to be reviewed consistently. David Ford, IOPC director, said: “After careful assessment of referrals from Gwent Police and South Wales Police, we have decided to independently investigate how police responded to the missing person reports. We want to allow Gwent police and South Wales police the time and space to investigate the matter in a thorough and professional way and to enable the Independent Office for Police Conduct thereafter to come to their own conclusions.” Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hoborough of Gwent Police said: “This is an extremely sad situation, and our thoughts are with the families and friends of each of the young people involved.