Police on the New South Wales south coast are investigating the tragic discovery of a woman's body outside a local station. The incident has triggered a major probe and will be subject to an independent review.
Discovery at the Police Station
Officers made the grim find about 4:30pm on Friday at the Lake Illawarra police station. The body of a 48-year-old woman was located inside a vehicle parked outside the station. Emergency services were immediately called to the scene.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, the woman could not be revived and was declared dead at the scene. Police have since established a crime scene as their investigation gets underway.
Investigation and Independent Oversight
A Critical Incident Investigation has been launched by the police force. In a significant development, the investigation will be subject to an independent review by the Professional Standards Command. This command is responsible for setting standards for performance and integrity within NSW Police.
Furthermore, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) will provide oversight. The LECC's role includes reviewing how misconduct allegations are handled and investigating claims of serious misconduct. Authorities believe the woman's body may have been in the car for several days, possibly since Tuesday, before the Friday afternoon discovery.
Appeal for Information and Next Steps
Police are now urging anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward. They are particularly keen to obtain any CCTV or dash cam footage from the vicinity of the Lake Illawarra police station in recent days.
A report is being prepared for the coroner, who will ultimately determine the cause of death. The combination of the critical incident probe, along with scrutiny from both the Professional Standards Command and the LECC, underscores the seriousness with which this case is being treated.
