Response to concerns for the welfare of a man - Surrey Police, December 2016

In December 2016, Surrey Police contact centre received a call reporting concerns for the welfare of a man. In the preceding two months the man’s wife had called Surrey Police on several occasions in relation to concerns for the welfare of her husband. She had informed police that her husband was depressed and suicidal. These calls were handled appropriately by Surrey Police. Warning markers were placed on his Police National Computer record for depression.

Prior to the deployment of any resources, Surrey Police received a call from a member of the public reporting that a man had driven into the River Thames. The man, who died at the scene, was identified as the same man about whom Surrey Police had received a concern for welfare report earlier that day.

Our investigation reviewed the conduct of multiple staff involved in handling the calls pertaining to the man.

The investigator formed the opinion that there was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal, properly directed, could find misconduct in respect of one Surrey Police officer who was responsible for risk assessing the incident and making decisions in relation to the deployment of officers, for failing to appropriately identify the level of risk posed to the man.

The Investigator was also of the opinion that the performance of one call handling operator, who treated the incident as a concern for welfare, rather than a missing person enquiry, may be considered to be unsatisfactory.

After reviewing our report the force advised in summer 2017 that performance issues for the call handler would be addressed by their line manager. Surrey Police also agreed to hold a misconduct meeting for the officer. At the meeting that took place in autumn 2017, the Chair found misconduct not proven for the officer.

We waited until the inquest into the man’s death had completed, in autumn 2018, before publishing the outcomes of our investigation.