Shana Grice: police apologise as TV documentary exposes failings

Shana Grice reported her ex-boyfriend Michael Lane to Sussex Police five times in 2016 before he killed the 19-year-old in her bedroom and tried to burn her body in August that year.

The receptionist from Mile Oak was fined £90 by police in March 2016 for failing to disclose she had been in a relationship with Lane, and for "having caused wasteful employment of police by making a false report".

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The case was the subject of a Sky Crime documentary, Murder in Slow Motion, over the weekend.

Shana Grice with her boyfriend Ashley Cooke

Tom Milsom from the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) told the documentary makers Ms Grice was "failed" by police.

He said: “You really need to listen to the victim and I don't think that happened to Shana.

"She was let down.”

Ms Grice had first reported Lane to police for stalking her, sending her unwanted flowers and leaving a message on her boyfriend's car on February 8, 2016.

On March 24 she contacted police when Lane pulled her hair and tried to grab her phone.

No action was taken against Lane, while Ms Grice received a £90 Fixed Penalty Notice after police found out she had previously been in a relationship with him.

In July, Ms Grice made three reports to police within the space of four days.

Lane was cautioned by police and told to stay away from her after he stole a back door key from her home, let himself in and watched her sleeping.

Ms Grice later reported to police she had been followed.

On August 25, Lane entered her home, slashed her throat and set fire to her bedroom.

Michael Lane was jailed for 25 years in 2017

Lane, then 27, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for murder in March 2017.

READ MORE: Stalker accused six years before Shana Grice murder

The former PC who issued the £90 fine to Ms Grice, Trevor Godfrey, was found guilty of misconduct by Sussex Police in July last year.

In a statement, Sussex Police said: "We have long accepted we made mistakes in this tragic case and again apologise for the failures highlighted.

"What happened should not have happened and we have learned many lessons.

"We have since invested more resource, delivered better training and improved processes to prevent this from happening to anyone else."

The response to Shana’s case was subject to a number of independent reviews by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, Brighton and Hove Safe In the City Partnership and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Service (HMICFRS).

SEE ALSO: Sussex is second highest in country for stalking cases

The force spokesman added: "Three police officers faced misconduct hearings and a further three police officers and three members of police staff received management advice and training.

"Of the three that underwent hearings, one case of gross misconduct was found proved, one was not, and the third faced internal proceedings and was given a final written warning for conduct.

"We remain committed to further improvements and we encourage women to come forward with the knowledge that our officers and staff are better trained and will take all reports seriously.

"You can report stalking or harassment online, by calling 101 or in person at your local police station. Always call 999 if you are in danger."