Families of serial killer Stephen Port’s victims have been told a report into the Met Police’s initial response to the four deaths will be “damning.”

Solicitors representing the families met the Independent Office for Police Conduct last week (IOPC) as a report is set to go ahead of the Met in May.

The lawyers said the initial response to the four deaths were hindered by “multiple failings and missed opportunities.”

Lawyer Neil Hudgell added: “The families were pleased to have an opportunity to meet with the IOPC and express their frustrations about how slow the investigation has been.

They want to see the report and have answers about why their loved one is no longer with them.”

In total, the actions of 17 officers are under investigation.

Last year the inquest verdict into the death of a Gravesend man murdered by Port was quashed.

In June 2015 senior coroner for East London Nadia Persaud ruled that Daniel Whitworth, of Nine Elms Road, and Gabriel Kovari died after overdosing on GHB and methadone the previous summer.

They were both found dead in the same Barking churchyard within a month of each other and a suicide note found in 21-year-old Mr Whitworth's possession claimed he blamed himself after accidentally administering a fatal dose of GBH to his lover Mr Kovari during an orgy.

That was before their deaths had been linked to those of Anthony Walgate the previous year and Jack Taylor, who died in September 2015.

Stephen Port — known as the Grindr killer because of the dating app he used to meet his victims — has since been jailed for life for the four murders.

The "suicide note" had been forged by him.

The 41-year-old chef was also convicted of 10 offences of administering a substance with intent, four rapes and four sexual assaults.

The Metropolitan Police is investigating 58 deaths linked to the drugs in the last four years.

In the wake of the verdict, the families' lawyers requested the open verdicts into the pair's deaths be quashed and Ms Persaud made an application to the High Court.

November last year Mr Justice Holroyde and Mr Justice Green approved the application.