Police face probe over woman injured in arson attack

The force voluntarily referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission after the blaze in Dinnington on November 1.

A 35-year-old woman was taken to Rotherham District General Hospital after being rescued by firefighters and was later released.

The IPCC says it assessed the material referred to it by the force and has launched an indepedent investigation “that will examine South Yorkshire Police’s response to a number of calls made to the force”.

Police arrested Liam Fretwell, 23, and Carly Waddington, 19, shortly after the fire. They were charged with arson with intent to endanger life and appeared at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court on 4 November.

Cindy Butts, IPCC Commissioner for Yorkshire, said: “Our investigation will examine the contact between the woman and South Yorkshire Police to ascertain whether the correct procedures and policies were followed, and also whether anything further could have been done prior to the fire at her home on 1 November.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “South Yorkshire Police can confirm it has voluntarily referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) following a house fire in Dinnington on 1 November. The force with co-operate with the investigation.”