CCTV along the route where Zara Aleena was murdered as she walked home was not monitored at the time, relatives believe.
There are claims one control room staff member called in sick and the second was reviewing an earlier incident when law graduate Zara, 35, was killed.
Her family are said to have become aware of the situation ahead of an inquest into Zara’s death in June.
She was murdered by sexual predator Jordan McSweeney after leaving a bar in Ilford, East London, in June 2022.
Redbridge Council’s CCTV HQ, which has 653 cameras — 19 on Cranbrook Road, where Zara was killed — was not staffed at the time, the family believe.
A source said: “There is a probe going on involving the council and the police and it is focusing on whether there has been any negligence.
“There is no clarity as to what happened.”
The source added: “Two people should have been monitoring surveillance screens but the family believe one was off, leaving just the other, which in itself is questionable.”
Footage showed fairground worker Sweeney, who had 28 convictions, prowling the busy area for hours as he hunted for a victim.
The fiend, who had been released from jail only nine days earlier, was stripped to his prison-issue vest after being thrown out of a pub for harassing women.
He then tailed four lone females before targeting 5ft 2in Zara at 2.15am.
McSweeney, who should have been recalled to jail for missing a probation appointment, dragged her into an alley.
He sexually assaulted Zara and beat her for nine minutes, causing 46 injuries.
McSweeney was caught after CCTV traced his movements before he killed Zara, who herself was picked up on 15 cameras.
He pleaded guilty to murder and sexual assault and was sentenced to life in prison.
He must serve a minimum of 33 years.
Concerns over CCTV monitoring are understood to have been raised at a pre-inquest hearing into Zara’s death last month.
Zara’s aunt Farah Naz said previously that probation bosses and ministers “have blood on their hands” over failings linked to the case.
It came after McSweeney was incorrectly assessed as “medium risk” instead of high, despite a long history of violence against women.
A spokesman for Zara’s family declined to comment on the CCTV monitoring claims.
Redbridge Council said it could not comment pending the inquest.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
