Response to report of assault - Devon and Cornwall Police, February and March 2017

On 17 February 2017 Devon and Cornwall Police received a report that a man of no fixed abode had been assaulted approximately ten days previously. Enquiries were pended until 28 March, when the man was due to answer bail for an unrelated matter. On 21 March the man was found dead at the home of a friend with obvious signs of injury to his face.

Our investigation examined the police response to the initial report of assault and whether that response was in line with relevant policies and procedures.

Evidence indicated that the assault suffered by the man on 21 March was not committed by the same person who carried out the assault in February. The post-mortem examination also concluded that the assault had no part to play in his death, but that he had died as a result of the combined effects of his alcohol and drug use.

The investigation found that Devon and Cornwall police had carried out enquiries to locate the man in the intervening period, and that there was no link between the man’s death and the assault he had previously suffered.

We found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary or criminal proceedings.

After reviewing our report, the force identified some performance issues for one officer, which it will address through a development plan, as well as some potential learning for the Crime Management Hub in how crimes are allocated to police officers or member of staff.

Devon and Cornwall also proposed to review the case to identify learning opportunities for how the force can engage with and safeguard homeless people, possibly working with other agencies.