Watchdog reviews police contact with child killer

Elizabeth John and Ethan John were killed at their Stoke-on-Trent home in June 2023

The police watchdog is reviewing a report by Staffordshire Police about contact it had with a woman who killed her two children a day after she was arrested on suspicion of assault.

Veronique John was told earlier this month that she would remain at a secure hospital indefinitely after what a judge described as a "frenzied attack on two defenceless children".

Staffordshire Police had arrested John on 10 June 2023, but she was given a restorative disposal.

She was released the following day, and subsequently went on to kill her two children.

Staffordshire Police said its professional standards department had found the force's service level had been unacceptable.

A spokesperson for the force said: “On Saturday 10 June 2023, Veronique John was arrested on suspicion of assault.

“The victim did not wish to provide a statement or make a complaint.

“After being questioned in custody, she was given a restorative disposal and released the following day.”

The force made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on 12 June 2023 due to recent police contact with Veronique John, and on 16 June, the IOPC decided the force should carry out a local investigation.

A spokesperson for the IOPC said information provided to Staffordshire Police at the time suggested Veronique John’s husband was at risk rather than her children.

“From the detail given, it was not clear that police would have been aware that there was a real and immediate risk to the children,” they said.

“After careful assessment, we decided an investigation was required but that it was suitable for the force to carry out and that a sufficient level of oversight would be provided by the force sending the IOPC their report if no conduct was identified.

“Staffordshire Police have now sent us their investigation report, which we are currently reviewing.

“Our sympathies are with all those affected by this tragedy.”