Joanne Rand was fatally wounded when she was hit with high-strength sulphuric acid in June 2017 during a scrap between Xeneral Webster and a member of the public.
It has subsequently emerged Webster was the prime suspect in a separate acid attack, committed on a woman in north London four months before Ms Rand died.
A Metropolitan Police detective constable allegedly failed to circulate CCTV images that, when released 20 months later, would go on to identify Webster as the prime suspect.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had begun looking into the conduct of the detective constable.
It informed Ms Rand's family last week about the circumstances around Webster.
We feel let down by the Metropolitan Police.
They believe the 47-year-old carer for dementia patients would not have been attacked had Webster been dealt with at the time.
In a statement, the family told the Press Association: "We are deeply upset and disappointed.
"This was hard news to hear as we are all still struggling to cope with the loss of Jo.
"We feel let down by the Metropolitan Police."
ATTACK SHOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED
The police watchdog said it was alleged the images from the March 2017 incident were not circulated until November 2018.
Three days later the suspect was identified as Webster, who had just started a 17-year jail term for killing Ms Rand.
The watchdog said the officer is being investigated for gross misconduct for alleged breaches of professional standards relating to his duties and responsibilities, orders and instructions and discreditable conduct – the IOPC is not investigating allegations of a criminal nature.
The investigation is looking at the officer's handling of the case and whether it was in line with the Met's policies and procedures.
IOPC regional director Jonathan Green said: "This investigation raises the very serious question about the way in which a Metropolitan Police Service officer may have handled a crucial piece of evidence which may have identified the suspect of an acid attack.
"Our investigation will be rigorous in challenging how this evidence relating to the circulation of CCTV images was handled and seek to uncover whether other victims of crime may have been impacted upon as a result of any shortfalls."
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