Complaint regarding police interaction with a man before his death - Metropolitan Police Service, December 2016

On 10 December 2016, at 5.30am, an abandoned emergency call was made to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). Checks were conducted and the phone number was linked to a house in south-east London. Upon arrival, MPS officers spoke to the woman who lived there, who confirmed that the call had been made by her son, who wasn’t at home. They subsequently left.

A short time later police received another emergency call from the woman saying that her son had returned home and that he was drunk and arguing with his father.

Officers returned to the address at 6.15am. Speaking to the father, the police found out the son had left the house and had been shouting while walking up the road. Officers went to search for him but discontinued the search approximately seven minutes later when it was confirmed no offences had been reported.

The man was found dead at 7.09am in a neighbouring road.

The father made a complaint to us stating that the MPS missed opportunities to safeguard his son.

During the investigation, investigators gathered statements from witnesses, computer-aided dispatch records, GPS data and documents from the Coroner’s inquest.

We found that, at the time officers conducted a search of the area for the man, they had not been provided with any information that would cause concern for his welfare. Based on this information, we found the decision not to continue searching the area to be appropriate.

Based on the evidence available, we found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings.

After reviewing our report, the force agreed with our findings.