MISSING GEORGINA GHARSALLAH: Police apology over failures but original officers still on case

POLICE have apologised to the family of a missing mother-of-two for “significant mistakes” in the investigation.

However, there are concerns from her family that officers on the initial investigation into the disappearance of Georgina Gharsallah remain on the case.

Sussex Police had already referred itself to the police watchdog, the Independent Office of Police Conduct, over the probe into Georgina's disappearance.

She vanished from Worthing, West Sussex, in 2018.

However her family still have concerns about the force, which they say has been “slow to admit their failings”.

Ms Gharsallah’s disappearance aged 30 is being treated as a homicide investigation, and missing person posters can still be seen throughout the West Sussex town.

SIGHTING: CCTV footage of Georgina at Clifton Food and Wine on March 7 2018 at 9.30am (Sussex Police)

Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner met with Ms Gharsallah’s family on Friday, and praised their “dignity and persistence in pursuing all avenues to find out what happened to her”.

She said a review into the investigation had highlighted “significant mistakes”, including issues with CCTV in the early parts of the inquiry two years ago, and she apologised to the family for that.

Ms Shiner added: “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 inquiry, I will make sure all appropriate resource is made available to pursue this.”

Ms Gharsallah’s mother Andrea said the apology is “a step in the right direction”, and she welcomed the chief constable’s pledge that she “was determined to do whatever she could to work with the family to help find out what happened to Georgina”.

However, she said the family still have concerns about some officers working on the case.

She said: “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.”