Police quizzed over abuse deaths

Fiona Pilkington and Francecca Hardwick suffered years of abuse

Ten police officers are under investigation over their handling of the case of two women who died after suffering years of abuse from youths.

Fiona Pilkington, 38, killed herself and her daughter Francecca Hardwick, 18, after years of abuse from a gang in Bardon Road, Barwell, Leicestershire.

An inquest jury found the family's cries for help had been ignored.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission announced the inquiry in September.

Police were contacted 33 times in 10 years about bullying which targeted Ms Pilkington and her daughter in the street where they lived.

But an inquest last September found that Ms Pilkington received only eight visits from police officers.

She was found dead with her daughter in her burnt-out car, which was parked in a lay-by on the A47 in nearby Earl Shilton, in October 2007.

'Under review'

After the inquest the IPCC said it would investigate how Leicestershire Constabulary dealt with the family's complaints in the years before the deaths.

Police and council officers had so far "co-operated fully" with the inquiry, the IPCC said on Tuesday.

The statement added: "We have now served advisory notices on a total of 10 Leicestershire Police officers and this situation is being kept under review.

"Such notices are not judgmental in any way, but are required under police misconduct regulations, and served on officers to advise that their conduct is under investigation."

It added: "This complex inquiry is going back over police contact with Fiona Pilkington, her daughter and neighbours over a period of several years.

"We are progressing this rigorous investigation as swiftly as possible and will make our findings public in due course."