Met Police apologises after losing evidence linked to JFS pupil’s death

The Metropolitan Police has apologised after confirming it had lost evidence linked to the death of JFS schoolgirl Mia Janin.

The force confirmed it had lost a number of items that belonged to the 14-year-old who took her own life after being bullied by pupils in and outside of her school, her father claims.

A pre-inquest review hearing, held in March this year, into the death of Mia in March 2021 heard her parents had raised concerns over bullying with staff at the Jewish Free School in Kenton, north-west London.

The year 10 pupil was found dead at her family home in nearby Harrow on March 12 2021.

The hearing was told evidence given to the Metropolitan Police after her death by pupils at the school – who cannot be named for legal reasons – had “inconsistencies” and that some of them disputed that Mia was bullied.

Items lost by the force include a sim card from her main phone and a second mobile handset.

The force also revealed that it believed the items went missing when the investigating team relocated to another station.

A spokesperson for the Met said: “As part of the investigation into Mia’s death, police examined a number of items belonging to her. This included a sim card from her main phone and a second mobile handset.

“Both the sim card and the handset were examined by specialists and then placed into the property store at Barnet Police station with the intention of providing them back to the family at a later date. All of our investigations relating to these two items had been completed at this point.

“Unfortunately we have been unable to locate these items within the store. We believe this may be due to the re-location of the investigating team to another station, during which time property was also transferred.

“We are extremely sorry that these items have not yet been located and have apologised directly to Mia’s family for the added distress this has caused.

“Extensive searches, including reviews of all relevant paperwork, have been carried out but have so far been unsuccessful. We are continuing our efforts to search for these items.”