The mother of two sisters who were tragically murdered expressed that the Metropolitan Police’s apology “felt like a slap in the face” after two officers were sentenced for disseminating images of her daughters’ remains.
Mina Smallman shared in an interview on Desert Island Discs that she felt a sense of relief when the constables were convicted, remarking that the police force has allowed “hidden pockets of filth” to thrive within its ranks.
The slain sisters, Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were killed in June 2020 while celebrating Ms. Henry’s birthday in a park located in Wembley, north-west London. Danyal Hussein was sentenced to at least 35 years in prison for their murders, which he claimed were part of a Satanic blood pact.
Former officers Deniz Jaffer and Jamie Lewis received sentences of two years and nine months for sharing images of the sisters over WhatsApp, referring to them derogatorily as “dead birds” in various chat groups.
In 2021, former Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick issued an official apology on behalf of the police to the family. When asked for her thoughts on the apology, Ms. Smallman told BBC Radio 4 that it “felt like a slap in the face, really.” She stated, “You apologize when you accidentally bump into someone at the supermarket. There’s a level of arrogance present among large institutions.”
Ms. Smallman, who is a retired teacher and priest, mentioned that after she reported her daughters missing, the police call handler did not follow up with her. She expressed a belief that a search was not promptly initiated due to her daughters’ ethnic backgrounds.
The 68-year-old noted, “Sometimes discrimination is implicit. It’s reflected in inaction and the messages conveyed through institutional behavior.”
Upon learning that police had shared images of her daughters, Ms. Smallman recounted how she “completely lost it.”
She criticized the police by saying, “Do not enter this profession to exert power over individuals. Engage in this role with the intent to do good.” She acknowledged the many dedicated officers who genuinely protect the community, clarifying that her criticisms are aimed at those who have infiltrated the system due to poor oversight and a lack of funding that has allowed misconduct to fester.
“I have no words to describe them, and I will hold them accountable,” she asserted. “I felt joy when those two officers were sentenced.”
In 2013, Ms. Smallman made history as the first black woman to become an archdeacon in the Church of England, serving in Southend within the Diocese of Chelmsford. She conveyed that she has been able to find forgiveness for her daughters’ murderer, saying, “We refer to it as the grace of God. I don’t even think about him, and right now, I feel no emotional connection. It’s as if he doesn’t exist.
“And that’s a blessing because, as a protective mother, my instinct would be to want to harm him, and I don’t need those thoughts occupying my mind – that would be overwhelming.”
Conversely, Ms. Smallman admitted she has not forgiven the imprisoned police officers, stating, “No, that hasn’t happened. It fuels my determination to push institutions to improve.”
The Old Bailey trial revealed that Jaffer and Lewis, who were not wearing protective gear, had been assigned to secure the scene in June 2020. Jaffer captured four photographs of the bodies, while Lewis took two and created a “selfie-style” image by superimposing his face onto another photo. The court also heard that the misconduct of these officers contributed to Hussein’s attempt to present a misleading defense regarding the possible contamination of vital DNA evidence.
