Sudden death of officer facing misconduct hearing referred to IOPC
The sudden death of an officer from South Wales Police who was due to face a disciplinary hearing, having been convicted of drink-driving and being drunk in charge of a child, has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Police Constable Lianne Matthews, who worked as a school liaison officer and specialised in child protection, died after being hit by a train in Caerphilly on the evening of February 3. She had been due to appear before a misconduct hearing in March to answer an allegation of discreditable conduct.
Last September at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court, PC Matthews pleaded guilty to charges of driving with excess alcohol and being drunk in charge of a child under the age of seven years.
She was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100 and prosecution costs of £85. She was also disqualified from driving for 20 months. No separate penalty was imposed for the offence of being drunk in charge of a child.
A police source quoted by Wales Online said the officer had been at work on the day she died, adding: “People in the force are devastated by what has happened. They want an investigation to take place to ensure everything possible was done to ensure that a proper duty of care was shown.”
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “We can confirm the sudden death of a Cardiff-based police officer on Monday, February 3.
“The officer’s family are currently being supported by specially-trained officers and our thoughts remain very much with them, her friends and colleagues who are grieving at this time. The officer’s death is being investigated by British Transport Police.
“South Wales Police has referred the matter to the IOPC.”
