Probe launched into suicide women's complaints

Scotland Yard was today at the centre of another major independent inquiry into its treatment of female crime victims.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has begun examining the cases of two women who committed suicide in a chemical death pact.

The pair, named locally as prostitutes Chemaine Chevlene, 31, and Jaime Perlman, 26, were found dead in a fume-filled Putney rented flat two weeks ago.

Officials are combing through claims that police failed to adequately investigate complaints by both women that they were being harassed by different men.

A detective constable has been suspended on suspicion of gross misconduct over allegations he falsified documents to end cases prematurely.

It is understood discrepancies in more than 30 cases, mainly involving rape victims, are being studied.

The detective is is alleged to have fabricated statements and letters to potential victims saying inquiries have been discontinued on advice from prosecutors.

He is a member of the Sapphire sex investigation unit, set up by the Metropolitan Police to improve the treatment of victims.

The London force has already been hauled over the coals after blunders were exposed during its investigations of sex attackers John Worboys and Kirk Reid.

Senior officers unveiled an overhaul of its handling of sex crimes last year, bringing Sapphire units under the control of a central command.

The bodies of the two women were found when police visited a rented flat in Lower Richmond Road, Putney, on September 30.

Police discovered Miss Chevlene had contacted them in May 2008 and Miss Perlman made contact in January 2009.

Both women made unrelated reports of harassment and Miss Chevlene had complained over the thoroughness of police work in June.

The Met's directorate of professional standards had begun an inquiry into her claims at the time of her death.

Police also found letters in which Miss Perlman outlined why she was unhappy about the police inquiry into her harassment claim between January 2009 and April 2010.

The suspended detective was involved in her case. It is understood Miss Perlman's case is of most concern to investigators.

Deborah Glass of the IPCC said: "Both women raised concerns about how the police handled their reports of harassment, and we are examining whether the officers involved did what would be reasonably expected of them.

"We are also carrying out a further investigation, looking into a number of other cases handled by the officer in Miss B's (Miss Perlman's) case."

The latest Met figures showed recorded rape offences have gone up by a third while other sexual offences increased by 7%.

The Metropolitan Police, which has not publicly identified the victims, confirmed a second referral has been made to the IPCC.