Investigation into police actions to safeguard a man - South Wales Police, March 2022

In March 2022, South Wales Police officers responded to a call from the parents of a man who was suffering with deteriorating mental health, having become violent and abusive. The man was taken to hospital for assessment and was detained under the Mental Health Act. 

Ten days later the man absconded from his hospital ward. Staff informed South Wales Police and confirmed he was potentially dangerous to his parents. 

Police officers attended the hospital to make enquiries and begin a search; in the meantime, the man arrived at his parents’ address where he attacked his father causing injuries from which the father later died. 

Our investigators examined national and local procedures and policies, listened to audio recordings of calls, obtained logs, occurrences and other documentation, and obtained statements from the officers attending and the call handler. 

We concluded the evidence did not indicate that a person serving with the police may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner justifying the bringing of disciplinary proceedings. 

We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents. 

In this case, the investigation has not identified any learning.