Police officer under scrutiny for empty van crash
BBCA police officer is under criminal investigation and has been served a misconduct notice after an unoccupied police van rolled into two 12-year-old girls.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the actions of the Cumbria Police officer after the crash on Senhouse Street in Maryport on 18 April.
The police watchdog said it was considering whether the officer broke the law by leaving the vehicle unattended and in a dangerous position.
It also said they were served with a gross misconduct notice for breaches of police standards for professional behaviour - but that did not necessarily mean criminal or disciplinary proceedings would follow.
One of the children was taken to hospital by air ambulance with serious injuries following the crash, but both are now recovering.
IOPC director of engagement Amanda Rowe said: "Our role is to independently investigate the involvement of police in this collision to establish the circumstances.
"The conduct notice relates to the actions and decisions of the officer, specifically an indication that the officer may have failed to correctly park and secure the van, and whether that was in line with training, policy and procedure.
"We have spoken to the girls' families to explain our role and will keep them updated as our work progresses."
The watchdog said its investigators had been reviewing evidence including obtaining and analysing CCTV, police body-cam video, and dash-cam footage.
A vehicle examination had also taken place which showed the van had no defects, it said.
