Four Northamptonshire Police Officers to Face Misconduct Hearings Over Harshita Brella Case
A misconduct hearing has been announced for four Northamptonshire police officers in connection with their handling of a domestic abuse case involving 24-year-old Harshita Brella, who was found dead last year. The investigation into her death is ongoing and a suspect, Pankaj Lamba, who is believed to have fled the UK, remains at large.
Brella had reported alleged domestic abuse by Lamba to Northamptonshire police in August 2024. Two of his colleagues, a detective constable, will face a hearing on gross misconduct over their handling of the case. A sergeant and chief inspector also face disciplinary action for failing to properly supervise and review the investigation.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded that the police officers may have breached professional standards of behaviour during their interactions with Brella. The watchdog's report found potential flaws in the police's response to Brella's allegations, including issues with the investigation strategy, communication with the victim, and safeguarding considerations.
An assistant chief constable has promised that Northamptonshire Police will review the IOPC's findings thoroughly and implement any necessary recommendations to improve its service. The case highlights concerns about how domestic abuse cases are handled by law enforcement agencies and the need for improved training and procedures to support victims of abuse.
In a statement, the IOPC said its investigation had found that Brella's allegations were not taken seriously enough by some officers, leading to potential miscarriages of justice. The watchdog is now reviewing Northamptonshire police's domestic abuse investigation unit to identify areas for improvement.
The case has sparked calls for greater accountability and transparency from law enforcement agencies when it comes to handling domestic abuse cases.
A misconduct hearing has been announced for four Northamptonshire police officers in connection with their handling of a domestic abuse case involving 24-year-old Harshita Brella, who was found dead last year. The investigation into her death is ongoing and a suspect, Pankaj Lamba, who is believed to have fled the UK, remains at large.
Brella had reported alleged domestic abuse by Lamba to Northamptonshire police in August 2024. Two of his colleagues, a detective constable, will face a hearing on gross misconduct over their handling of the case. A sergeant and chief inspector also face disciplinary action for failing to properly supervise and review the investigation.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded that the police officers may have breached professional standards of behaviour during their interactions with Brella. The watchdog's report found potential flaws in the police's response to Brella's allegations, including issues with the investigation strategy, communication with the victim, and safeguarding considerations.
An assistant chief constable has promised that Northamptonshire Police will review the IOPC's findings thoroughly and implement any necessary recommendations to improve its service. The case highlights concerns about how domestic abuse cases are handled by law enforcement agencies and the need for improved training and procedures to support victims of abuse.
In a statement, the IOPC said its investigation had found that Brella's allegations were not taken seriously enough by some officers, leading to potential miscarriages of justice. The watchdog is now reviewing Northamptonshire police's domestic abuse investigation unit to identify areas for improvement.
The case has sparked calls for greater accountability and transparency from law enforcement agencies when it comes to handling domestic abuse cases.
Can you imagine having a bad day at work, getting a misconduct hearing for not taking someone seriously enough... I mean, who hasn't had that experience, right? 
Anyway, this whole thing is super serious and I'm glad the IOPC is looking into it. It's like when you spill coffee on your shirt and everyone's all like "ooh, poor you" but then you're the one dealing with the stains for days 
. The police need to step up their game and get those procedures in order, kudos to them for taking this seriously. Fingers crossed they can learn from this and help more people, especially those who are going through a tough time like Harshita's fam 
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this is so disturbing... 4 police officers facing misconduct hearings over their handling of a domestic abuse case is just heartbreaking 
. It's like they're more worried about covering up the cops than actually helping the victim. I mean, what kind of training do these people need? 
. And to think there's a suspect on the run... it's like they're never going to hold anyone accountable for this woman's death 
. The IOPC's findings are pretty damning, and honestly, I don't blame them for wanting to review their domestic abuse investigation unit 
. It's time for some serious overhauls in our law enforcement system 
.
. Like, we can't even have a bad day without someone getting roasted online? These cops are just trying to do their job, but they messed up, okay? It's not like they intentionally set out to harm anyone. They're human beings too, you know?
this is just devastating news... 4 police officers are going to face misconduct hearings over how they handled Harshita Brella's case... i mean, we already know she passed away last year and the investigation is still ongoing 
. it's like, what were these officers thinking? didn't they take her allegations seriously enough? or did they just not know how to handle it properly? 
. i mean, it's not just about the officers who are involved in this case... it's about all the other victims out there who might be going through something similar.
. but still, 4 officers facing misconduct hearings? it's just heartbreaking 
we need to make sure that victims are prioritized and that their allegations are taken seriously from the start