Response to concern for welfare report - Essex Police and Suffolk Police, August 2017

On 1 August 2017 at 5.27pm, Essex Police received a call from a social worker via 999. The social worker was concerned about a woman with a major depressive disorder who had attempted to kill herself. The social worker had advised the woman to go to her nearest A&E, but she had failed to arrive and her mobile phone was switched off.

Two officers arrived at the woman’s house at 10.16am on 2 August and found her dead.

We investigated the actions and decision making of Essex Police following the concern for welfare report made by the social worker.

During the investigation, we found indications that a number of police staff employees and officers from Essex Police failed in their duties and responsibilities when they did not seek to resource the incident promptly, or attend the woman’s home in the timescales stipulated by Essex police guidance. We interviewed all police officers under the misconduct caution and obtained statements from the police staff employees

During the investigation, investigators also interviewed and obtained accounts from a number of police officers and police staff witnesses. We obtained data relating to staffing levels, location of officers and other police incidents that were occurring on 1 and 2 August 2017. We also reviewed Essex police guidance in relation to the incident.

At the end of the investigation, based on the evidence available, we submitted our opinion and determinations to Essex Police, and to Suffolk Police, where one of the police staff employees had transferred to.

After reviewing these, the forces determined that:

• Two officers had a case to answer for misconduct for their delayed response to the long overdue priority call to the incident; they will receive management action.
• Two members of police staff had no case to answer, but would benefit from management action for failing to be diligent in the execution of their duties.
• Three other members of police staff had a case to answer for misconduct for not taking sufficient action to identify and attempt to resource the incident over a prolonged period; they will receive management action.

We agreed that their proposals were appropriate.

Essex Police also advised that they will address some of the areas requiring improvement, as highlighted in our investigation. This will include reviewing their shift handover procedures as well as training provided to staff undertaking acting supervisor duties, and reinforcing roles and responsibilities within the Force Control Room.