Response to concern for welfare calls - Cambridgeshire Constabulary, February and March 2018

Cambridgeshire Constabulary officers were called to a home in East Cambridgeshire on 5 March 2018 where they found the hanging body of a woman. She was a frequent caller who suffered mental health issues including emotionally unstable personality disorder. Emergency services had attended on her over the previous few days. The previous night the police had decided not to attend on her call for service in accordance with the procedures agreed with other agencies involved in the woman’s care.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary referred the case to us as is usual when a person dies after contact with the police.

We obtained statements from officers who attended and medical practitioners. We also examined documents setting out the woman’s care plan involving other agencies; body worn video footage, scene photographs, radio transmissions and telephone conversations.

During the investigation we found no indication any police officer had behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence. We found that police officers involved had demonstrated a great deal of care and support for the woman and had repeatedly acted to prevent the woman from harming herself.

The Coroner recorded a verdict of suicide in February 2020.