GMP officer under investigation following death of Heather Smedley in Oldham
Factual summary of a published IOPC investigation, covering the incident, key findings and outcome.
- Published
- 2023-01-30
- Investigation type
- independent
- Force involved
- Greater Manchester Police
What was investigated
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is conducting a criminal investigation into the actions of a Greater Manchester Police officer in connection with the death of a woman in a fatal collision involving a police vehicle. The incident occurred while the police were pursuing a suspected stolen vehicle.
Key findings
- An unmarked police car was involved in a collision that resulted in a fatality.
- The fatal incident involved a police pursuit of a suspected stolen vehicle.
- Two police officers received treatment for injuries sustained during the collision.
- Evidence gathering includes initial accounts from witnesses and CCTV footage.
Outcome
The police driver is under criminal investigation for potential offences, including causing death by dangerous driving and careless driving. The status of all officers involved will be under review throughout the investigation.
Related on BlueLineHub
- Accountability hub — how oversight of UK policing works
- IOPC outcomes & learning feed
- Greater Manchester Police force profile
This is a factual summary of a report published by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Individuals are referred to exactly as the source report anonymises them. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the IOPC · Summarised 2026-07-13.