Inquiry over missing woman death

The body of Brita Burns, 39, was found about 50m (160ft) from the castle wall

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the handling of the case of a missing woman who was later found dead.

Concerns about Brita Burns, 39, were raised last Friday. Her body was found in bushes hours later in car park close to Caernarfon castle, in Gwynedd.

North Wales Police has voluntarily referred the case to the IPCC.

The watchdog is also investigating the case of a Gwynedd man who died following police custody.

The investigation in Ms Burns's case will focus on the actions of North Wales Police following the call concerning her welfare.

In a statement, the IPCC said North Wales Police were called at approximately 0140 BST on Friday 17 July with concerns for Ms Burns.

The caller gave police details of the area that they believed she was.

Later that day officers responded to reports that a woman's body, subsequently identified as Ms Burns, had been found in bushes near to a car park in Greengate Street, Caernarfon.

IPCC Commissioner for Wales Tom Davies, said: "Following the voluntary referral from North Wales Police, we have conducted an assessment of the circumstances of Ms Burns's death.

"That has been completed and based on our initial findings we feel it is appropriate to conduct further inquires through an independent investigation.

"The death of Ms Burns is a tragedy for her family.

Police cell

"For them to be able to grieve properly it is vital that an independent investigation is conducted to ensure that everything was done to try and find her after police were alerted to concerns.

"Therefore we will be looking at what actions were undertaken by officers, if they were done thoroughly enough and whether any more should have been done to trace Ms Burns."

On Thursday, the IPCC said it was investigating the death of Haydn Pritchard, 61, from Llanberis, who was arrested at his home in the early hours of Monday morning.

Mr Pritchard became unwell while in a police cell at Caernarfon and was taken to hospital in Bangor where he later died.

A post-mortem examination suggested he had died of natural causes.