Missing Worthing Mum Georgina Gharsallah's Family Report "Fulsome Apology" From Sussex Chief Constable

After Sussex Police referred itself to the police standards watchdog over missed opportunities in the search for missing Worthing woman Georgina Gharsallah, her family said tonight (October 2) the Chief Constable had apologised.

Sussex police confirmed Jo Shiner met with Georgina's family to 'reaffirm the force's commitment to finding her and discuss their concerns on the police investigation'.

Mother-of-two Georgina was last seen on March 7, 2018 in Worthing town centre.

Extensive searches and investigations since that date have failed to find any direct evidence of anything she had done, or anywhere she had been.

However, in recent weeks, a bank transaction took place using a debit card connected to a Sony PlayStation console in Georgina's possession on the day she went missing.

From soon after Georgina's disappearance, her relatives and friends have consistently questioned aspects of the Sussex Police investigation into the 32-year-old's disappearance, though officers have repeatedly explained to the family and media that the enquiries and procedures were thought to be appropriate to the case.

On September 8th, the family and their representatives met face-to-face with police, where officers admitted certain omissions in the investigation, including missed opportunities to review CCTV footage taken in Worthing at the time of Georgina's disappearance.

The family claimed tonight that a further meeting had taken place today (October 2), this time with the Chief Constable, Jo Shiner, at which an apology was given.

Police confirmed the meeting on Saturday (3).

Jo Shiner said:

“On Friday (2 October) I met with Georgina’s family and am full of admiration for their dignity and persistence in pursuing all avenues to find out what happened to her. I acknowledge their understandable grief.

"I hope I was able to reassure them of our commitment, and my personal commitment, to finding justice or closure for them.

"Where tangible information comes to light that generates a new and realistic enquiry, I will make sure all appropriate resource is made available to pursue this.

“The review I commissioned into the investigation concluded that a prolonged and extensive investigation has taken place, and this continues.

"However, it also highlighted some significant mistakes in the early part of the investigation in 2018 relating to CCTV and today I apologised to the family, on behalf of the force, for these mistakes and for any additional distress this has caused.

"Any further review now sits with the Independent Office of Police Conduct following our voluntary referral and we await their decision.

“This month marks the third birthday Georgina would have missed since her disappearance and I join her family in appealing for anyone with any information that may assist in finding out what happened to Georgina to come forward. "

Speaking through their own press officer, relatives and associates of Ms. Gharsallah said:

"Today, the family confirm, that Chief Constable Jo Shiner has made a fulsome apology for the failings in the investigation.

"The Head of the Sussex Force said the failings were unacceptable, and she understood that it would not necessarily improve matters, but the apology was heartfelt and sincere."

"The Chief Constable said that she would personally ensure that communications would improve and that she could be contacted directly by Georgina’s campaigning mother, Andrea Gharsallah, if that was not the case. 

"CC Jo Shiner said she was determined these failing will never happen again or that the family of any other missing person would be similarly affected by Police failings."

Georgina's mother Andrea, who has been at the heart of the campaign to investigate what happened to her daughter, added:

"Today’s apology by Chief Constable of Sussex, Jo Shiner, was a step in the right direction.  

"The force said that the answers for what happened would be a matter for the IOPC but that she was determined to do whatever she could to work with the family to help find out what happened to Georgina.

"We have long criticised the force and the force have been slow to admit their failings.

"We are concerned that many of the original investigating officers are still on the team and our trust in their competence is non-existent.”

Sussex Police siad that during the investigation there have been over 70 sightings across the UK but only one confirmed sighting.