Sussex police failed to protect her against Michael Lane, who stalked and killed her in 2016

Police officers are to face disciplinary charges over the case of a woman murdered after being stalked by her former partner, whose repeated pleas for help instead saw her fined for wasting police time.

Shana Grice, 19, had her throat slit in 2016 by Michael Lane, who was convicted of her murder in 2017 and jailed for 25 years.

After the murder, Sussex police’s handling of the case was investigated by the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Grice, of Portslade, near Brighton, made five separate complaints against Lane between February and July 2016. The pair had an on-off relationship, but when Grice finished it, Lane slashed the tyres of her car, assaulted her in the street and broke into her home. He also fitted a tracker to her car so he could monitor her movements.

Lane was only ever cautioned and never charged with an offence. The judge at the murder trial criticised police, accusing them of “stereotyping” the woman he murdered as she sought protection from the man stalking her.

On Wednesday the IOPC will formally announce disciplinary action following their investigation.

Sussex police said two police officers, one of whom has retired, would face gross misconduct proceedings next month. It said another police officer faced internal misconduct proceedings. Three other police officers and three members of police staff accepted management advice and further training.

In March 2016 Lane chased Grice down the street, snatched her phone and pulled her hair. She complained to police, but when Lane was interviewed he showed police phone messages from her to him that he claimed proved they were in a relationship.

It led to Grice being fined £90 for wasting police time and Lane was released without charge, a decision criticised by the judge at his murder trial, Nicholas Green.

“There was seemingly no appreciation on the part of those investigating that a young woman in a sexual relationship with a man could at one and the same time be vulnerable and at risk of serious harm,” he said. “The police jumped to conclusions and Shana was stereotyped.”

Shana’s parents, Sharon Grice and Richard Green, said that the charges were necessary. “Our daughter took her concerns to the police and instead of being protected was treated like a criminal,” they said.

“She paid for the police’s lack of training, care and poor attitude with her life. It’s only right that the police make changes, but it’s too little, too late for Shana.”

They added: “A young girl went to them for protection and ended up murdered in her own home by the very person she’d asked the police to protect her from.”

Shana’s parents, Sharon Grice and Richard Green, said: “Our daughter took her concerns to the police and instead of being protected was treated like a criminal. She paid for the police’s lack of training, care and poor attitude with her life.

“It’s only right that the police make changes, but it’s too little, too late for Shana.”

They added: “A young girl went to them for protection and ended up murdered in her own home by the very person she’d asked the police to protect her from.”

Assistant chief constable Nick May said: “We deeply regret the tragic death of Shana Grice in 2016 and are committed to constantly improving our understanding of stalking and our response to it.

“When we looked at the circumstances leading to Shana’s murder, we felt we may not have done the very best we could and made a referral to the IOPC.”

On Tuesday the IOPC ruled on another case involving a woman fearing violence who died after seeking help from Sussex police.

Michelle Savage complained to police three times that she feared her life was in danger from her former husband Craig Savage. He eventually shot her and her mother dead in 2018 at their home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.

A call handler has been given advice, the IOPC said, and the force has been told to make improvements.

In a report published on Wednesday, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services tells police across the country they must improve their response to protecting victims of stalking and harassment. The report finds police and other agencies lack a common definition of stalking and that complaints have risen 40%.

It says police are not using their powers robustly enough and while progress has been made, more needs to be done. The report said training Sussex police promised to introduce after Grice’s case had not been received by most officers, and called for police nationally to make urgent improvements.

Sussex police Assistant Chief Constable Nick May said: “The report acknowledges we have significantly improved our understanding of what stalking and harassment is, and what our response should be. It also sets out where there is even more work to do and we accept this.”

Lucy Hadley, campaigns and public affairs manager at Women’s Aid, said 40% of women supported by domestic abuse services had suffered surveillance, harassment and stalking. “Time and time again we hear from survivors of domestic abuse that the police have not taken their experiences of stalking at the hands of their abusive ex-partner seriously.

“We know that controlling and possessive behaviour from an ex-partner is a red flag that [a woman] is at serious risk of fatal violence.

“It can be a matter of life or death that the police give the right response in stalking cases. That’s why we urge police leaders to invest in domestic abuse and stalking training.”