Kiena Dawes: Police misconduct hearings after mum’s death

Lancashire: Kiena Dawes endured two-and-a-half years of abuse from her partner, Ryan Wellings. Tragically, she took her own life after leaving a heartbreaking note on her phone.

Now, three police officers are facing misconduct hearings because of their handling of her case. Kiena, just 23, had reported Wellings for breaching bail conditions before her death in July 2022.

Wellings was found guilty of assault and domestic violence but cleared of manslaughter. It’s also come to light that his mother and girlfriend are under investigation for allegedly coaching him during his trial.

Kiena had reached out for help, but her complaints were dismissed, and she was even told to delete a social media post about her abuse. In her note, she expressed hope that her story would lead to better police responses in the future.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is looking into the actions of the officers involved, and the police have promised that lessons will be learned from this tragic situation. Assistant Chief Constable Mark Winstanley has expressed his condolences to Kiena’s family and emphasized the importance of the ongoing proceedings.