The Met Police have apologised for a string of failures over the death of a mother and young daughter who were brutally murdered by a jealous ex-boyfriend.
Roland McKoy inflicted horrific injuries on Valerie Forde with a hammer, machete and screwdriver before slashing the throat of his baby daughter, 22-month-old Real Jahzara, when he was told to leave the family home in Hackney.
Mrs Forde had contacted the Met Police around six weeks before she died to report that her jealous ex had threatened to burn down her house while the family were inside.
The Met admitted there were instances where they should have responded better, after an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
Invesigators had looked at previous contact between Mrs Forde and Hackney police, revealing failings and "very poor performance" within the force's Community Safety Unit (CSU).
Commander Lucy D'Orsi said: "I have apologised to Valerie's family for our failings during the investigation into the abuse that Valerie suffered. I cannot begin to imagine how difficult this time has been for Valerie's family and the impact it has had and continues to have upon them.
"An independent review has also been carried out. The learning from that review will assist us in how we deal with some of the most vulnerable members of the community, those who face domestic abuse."
The way the threat to Mrs Forde was dealt with ahead of her death in March 2014 was "very poor", the IPCC found, adding this was exacerbated by low staffing levels.
Two detective sergeants and a trainee detective constable were found to have a case to answer for misconduct for failing to adequately progress the investigation and for poor record keeping.
A call handler who failed to fully record and communicate critical information in the 999 call from one of Mrs Forde's daughters was given "management advice".
The IPCC's recommendations have been acted upon and a number of new measures introduced, including specialist training for officers and an increase in the number of officers and staff at the CSU, the Met said.
IPCC commissioner Mary Cunneen said: "This was a tragic case and my thoughts are with the family. They were failed by the CSU in Hackney and there was evidence of poor performance by a number of officers.
"It is hard to know if a more robust police response prior to, or on the day of, the murder would have saved the woman and her child, but police inaction helped ensure that they were left to deal with the murderer alone when the terrible events of 2014 took place."
McKoy, then 54, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 35 years at the Old Bailey in December 2014.
Additional reporting by the Press Association.
MORE ABOUT