IOPC upholds review into complaints made about Greater Manchester Police investigation

A review by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded that complaints made about a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) investigation into the death of Teresa McMahon should be reinvestigated.

At the request of the complainant, we reviewed the force’s handling of complaints made following Teresa's death.

During our review, which began in October 2022, we looked at whether complaints were properly addressed and whether the service provided by officers was acceptable.

The complainant initially submitted complaints to the force in August 2022 following the death of Teresa, 43, in August 2021 and later submitted an application for a review to the IOPC after they were not upheld by the force.

We reviewed GMP’s handling of complaints about whether the force sufficiently investigated domestic abuse allegations, if they should have identified Teresa as vulnerable and if her death could have been avoided had officers acted differently.

The force determined that the service provided in response to these complaints was acceptable.

Following an assessment of the review, the IOPC has upheld the review and concluded the outcome of Greater Manchester Police’s investigation into the complaints was not reasonable and proportionate. A review is not a reinvestigation of a complaint or any police investigation that is subject to a complaint.

During our assessment we reviewed Greater Manchester Police’s domestic abuse policy which provides a guideline of the standards and considerations that are required to be undertaken when investigating allegations of this nature.

IOPC Head of National Operations Sunny Bhalla, said: “Our thoughts are with Theresa’s family and loved ones, as well as all those affected by her tragic death.

“After completing our review, we were not satisfied that the investigation conducted by Greater Manchester Police into the complaints made was adequate. We concluded that lines of enquiry had not been pursued and complaints were not sufficiently addressed.

“We have directed the force to reinvestigate the complaints in line with procedures outlined in their domestic abuse policy.”