Viktorija Sokolova: Investigation into police who received report 14-year-old was missing night before body found

Girl's family reported her missing to police the evening before her body was found

14-year-old Viktorija Sokolova was found dead in park on Thursday (West Midlands Police)

Police who received a report that a 14-year-old girl was missing the night before she was found dead are under investigation.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a member of Viktorija Sokolova’s family raised the alarm on the evening of 11 April.

Her body was found in a park in Wolverhampton at around 7am the following day and a teenage boy has been charged with rape and murder.

The IOPC is investigating how West Midlands Police responded to the original missing report after the force made a mandatory referral.

Regional director Derrick Campbell said: “Viktorija’s family have my deepest sympathy following their terrible loss. Our investigation will focus on how police responded to the missing person report, rather than how Viktorija died. We will keep the family and the force regularly updated.

“As is widely known, the force is separately conducting a criminal investigation and a teenage boy has appeared in court charged in connection with that. Therefore it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this time.”

West Park reopened on Thursday after a week of forensic investigation, with flowers and tributes lining the entrance.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Dudley Magistrates' Court earlier this week and is next due at a hearing in Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday.

A second boy, aged 17, was arrested on suspicion of murder and has been bailed pending further investigation.

Viktorija's family described the teenager as “a little angel” who “made our lives so colourful and full of meaning”.

They added: “You will be living in our hearts, soul and mind forever. Goodbye our little angel."