Sussex Police Insists "Commitment" To Investigating Missing Worthing Mother

The family of Georgina Gharsallah, who's been missing from her Worthing home since March 2018, have pleaded again with police to allow an independent review into how officers have conducted investigations — but Sussex Police says its commitment to solving the mystery of her disappearance remains.

The dialogue between the missing mother-of-two's family and the county's police service has once again been brought into public scrutiny as Georgina's family, including her mother Andrea Gharsallah, addressed an open letter to the new Chief Constable, Jo Shiner, outlining their many concerns.

But Sussex Police responded by releasing its own statement, outlining its response to the disappearance, the force's contact with the missing woman's family, and the continuing investigation.

It is not known if a private response was also made to the family.

Georgina Gharsallah, 32, was last seen on March 7 2018, leaving Clifton Food and Wines store in Clifton Road, Worthing.

Since then, police said, their investigative lines of enquiry have been unable to find any proof that Georgina is alive and the case was re-classified as a homicide in August last year.

The family's lengthy open letter (follow the link to read in full) states that their trust in the police investigation is "minimal".

In summary, it calls for:

• a third-party review of the police investigation;
• and a commitment by the new Chief Constable personally to scrutinize the operation,

and it claims that:

• failings have occurred on the part on the investigative team;
• and the family continues to be "dismissed".

The family also argues, among other points, that:

• there is no evidence of a homicide;
• their pleas to review CCTV from Worthing town centre comprehensively weren't taken seriously;
• potential witness statements have been dismissed;
• and the family has not yet been invited by police to make a joint television appeal for information.

But Sussex Police says it has already provided comprehensive replies to the family's questions in the past, in response to a previous open letter to the former Chief Constable Giles York.

Officers pointed out:

• their "significant investigative effort" following many lines of enquiry over the last 28 months;
• the inclusion of house-to-house enquiries where large numbers of people were spoken to;
• the number of areas searched;
• the investigations of potential sightings;
• a review by a specialist Crime Review Team;
• regular contact with Georgina's mother to give updates on the investigation;
• and that they understand the significant distress the lack of answers is causing the family.

A reward of up to £10,000 for information continues to be offered by the Crimestoppers charity.

In full, responding to the open letter from Georgina Gharsallah's family, Sussex Police said: