Investigation into police contact with man before his death – West Mercia Police, November 2023
On 29 May 2022, West Mercia Police were notified of a man intending to end his life. Officers attended, located the man and took him to hospital. A suicide note was found in which the man made threats to kill his neighbour. He was later arrested for ‘threats to kill’. He was released later that day with no further action. He stated he did not mean the threats and it was due to his poor mental health. The neighbour did not wish to pursue the matter and agreed he needed support for his mental health.
Over the next few weeks the man experienced further issues with his mental health. Police facilitated support for him. The man reported his neighbour was causing him distress and harassing him which was affecting his mental health. Officers began the process of arranging a house move to separate the neighbours.
On 18 June, the man attacked his neighbour with a knife and then presented himself at Malinsgate Police Station. The neighbour died as a result of his injuries.
Our investigators obtained accounts from numerous officers and staff that had contact with either of the men between 29 May and 18 June.
Policies relating to call handling and incident deployments were reviewed and considered alongside the actions taken.
Correspondence relating to the housing situation was provided.
The decision to release the man was scrutinised as with officers’ actions in respect of the man’s mental health.
During the investigation, there was 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 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.
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 identified potential learning in respect of Risk Management Plan training.
IOPC reference
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that West Mercia Police should introduce Risk Management Plan training or produce an aide memoire to assist in the creation of Risk Management Plans, including definitions or examples for the different levels of risk, low, medium and high.
At the end of May 2022 West Mercia Police were made aware of a concern for welfare of a male. Officers attended and located the man, who was attempting suicide. A note was recovered from his home address in which he threatened to kill his neighbour as a result of ongoing issues between the two.
The man was taken to hospital for assessment and was later arrested and taken to custody.
During interview, the man said he did not mean the threats and he was suffering with his mental health. The man was offered support and it was agreed the man could be released and the investigation discontinued. The neighbour supported this and said he did not think the threats were credible and the man needed to get support for his mental health.
A Risk Management Plan was set up in light of the threats. The risk level was set as medium.
The IOPC investigation found that officers were unable to provide confirmation of the definition of ‘medium’ risk. Therefore, it was not possible to say whether this was the appropriate level for this matter. Furthermore, officers claimed to have had no training or received any guidance in respect of Risk Management Plans. The force’s Professional Standards Department were unable to provide any current guidance and confirmed there was no training in place.
Providing training or an ‘aide-memoire’ (possibly linked on-screen during the creation process) to assist officers in creating Risk Management Plans, including the definitions of risk levels, will help to achieve a universal appreciation of risk levels and ensure that officers and staff understand the risks associated with matters and the most appropriate risk level is applied in each case.
Accepted
West Mercia Police are adopting a new Anti-Social Behaviour Risk Assessment that not only considers the act or behaviour, but more so the impact on the victim and uses a harm centred approach. This will also provide guidance to officers on the different actions that can be taken to reduce any risks identified as well as applying their own professional judgement.
In January 2024 all Safer Neighbourhood Team and Problem-Solving Hub Sergeants will attend an accredited (ASB) Case Management Principles Course, during which they will be trained how to supervise those using the new Anti-Social Behaviour Risk Assessment.
In addition, the Learning and Development Department are including the new Anti-Social Behaviour Risk Assessment as part of the Mandatory learning cycle to front line officers starting on the 10th January, which will run for 10 weeks.
Further training is also planned for all Police Community Support Officers in the appropriate use of the Risk Assessment.
The background to this particular case concerned neighbours and as such we are confident that the ASB risk assessment and management guidance would capture it. West Mercia Police is also examining its wider risk management plan framework to ensure that sufficient clarity exists for risks arising outside of the ASB environment.
Progress towards fulfilling the IOPC recommendation will be overseen through the force’s Continuous Improvement Board, chaired by the Deputy Chief Constable.