Hertfordshire Police are carrying out an internal inquiry into their response to a missing person investigation last month, where a misper's family waited four days to be informed of his death.

The misper was last seen on Friday 16th April and was reported missing by his parents on Saturday 17th April. A missing person appeal was put out by Hertfordshire Police on Monday 19th April and was run in the local paper on Wednesday. The misper, however, had died at Northwick Park tube station on the Friday night but his body was only identified on Wednesday.

A police spokesperson is quoted as saying: "On the evening of Friday, April 16, Hertfordshire Constabulary was informed of a fatal accident at Northwick Park station.

"The identity of the person was not known at the time and an investigation by British Transport Police commenced.

"On Saturday, April 17, the family of Matthew Cassar reported him missing to Hertfordshire Constabulary.

"As with any missing person inquiry, officers will do all they can to ensure the person is found as soon as possible, and extensive inquiries and searches were made to trace Matthew.

"The information provided to Hertfordshire Constabulary on Friday, April 16, was not linked to the subsequent report from Matthew's family of his disappearance, which we sincerely regret.

"While this would not have changed the tragic circumstances of what happened, it would have ended sooner the uncertainty for Matthew's family.

"As a constabulary, we quickly recognised that there was an issue with linking the information we had been given and, as a result of this, we are currently looking at any lessons to be learnt.

"Our sympathies are with Matthew's family. Specially trained family liaison officers are supporting them at this extremely difficult time."

A Hertfordshire Police Officer told SARworld that they have asked the NPIA to assist them in reviewing their response but reiterated that "whatever the police response, tragically he was dead already."